1) India and China talks to resolve boundary issue
India and China begin the 18th round of talks in New Delhi to resolve the contentious boundary issue. It`s the first round of talks on the issue between Special Representatives Ajit Doval and Yang Jiechi since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office. The fresh round of discussion is taking place nearly six months after Chinese President Xi Jinping`s visit to India last year.
- The high-profile visit was overshadowed by Chinese incursions into Chumar which ended after both sides simultaneously agreed to withdraw into their own territory. This is Ajit Doval`s first meeting since he was appointed India`s Special Representative in November last year while his Chinese counterpart led the meeting with former NSA Shiv Shankar Menon as well.
- China`s claim is that the border dispute is confined only to 2,000 kms mostly in Arunachal Pradesh whereas India says China occupies 38,000 square km of its territory on the Aksai Chin plateau in the west. Apart from this in a so-called Sino-Pakistan Boundary agreement of 1963, Pakistan handed over 5180 square kilometers of illegally captured land in Pak Occupied Kashmir to China. The other sticky issue between India and China is the issuing of stapled visas to residents of Arunachal Pradesh by China.
- Agreed to maintain peace and tranquility in border areas: India and China have agreed to maintain peace in border areas till their decades-old boundary problem is resolved in the discussions on 24th March. China’s Yang Jiechi and India’s Ajit Doval met and also agreed to discuss counterterrorism, maritime security, climate change, reform of the United Nations and civil nuclear energy cooperation, the ministry’s statement said. It was the 18th round of talks between special representatives of the two countries since a framework was adopted in 2003.
2) India and Qatar sign 6 agreements to strengthen bilateral ties
India and Qatar have signed 6 agreements to strengthen bilateral ties following delegation level talks. The pacts include agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons. Under this agreement, Indian prisoners convicted in Qatar can be brought to India to serve the remaining part of their sentence. Similarly Qatari Citizens convicted in India can be sent to his home country to serve their sentence. This agreement would enable the sentenced persons to be near their families and would help in the process of their social rehabilitation.
The second MoU pertains to cooperation in the field of Information and Communication Technology. The pact would provide enhanced business opportunities for Indian IT industry in Qatar.
Qatar has embarked on an ambitious programme for overall development as part of their Qatar 2030 vision and has created a dedicated Ministry of Information and Communication Technology for capacity building in ICT.
The third MoU was signed between Ministry of Earth sciences and Qatar Meteorological Department for Scientific and Technical cooperation Qatar Meteorological Department under the Civil Aviation Authority, Qatar.
The scientific collaboration between India and Qatar will be beneficial to improve atmospheric & Oceanic capacity in both the countries.
The fourth MoU was inked between Diplomatic Institute of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar and Foreign Service Institute, MEA.
This MoU would help in exchange of trainees, students, faculty members and experts between India and Qatar to enhance their skills and improve the training programme in both the countries.
The fifth MoU pertains to cooperation in the field of Radio and Television... This MoU is aimed at encouraging regular exchange of radio and TV programmes and material between Prasar Bharati of India and Qatar Media Cooperation. The final pact was signed for mutual Cooperation and Exchange of News.
The agreement between Qatari News Agency and United News Agency would enhance and develop bilateral cooperation in the field of exchange of English-language news on daily basis and free of charge.
3) PM Modi unveils plaque for Jaffna Cultural Centre
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the foundation plaque of the Jaffna Cultural Centre and handed over homes built for civil war displaced families in Jaffna as 27000 homes have been built by India as part of a flagship cooperation project. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled the foundation plaque of the Jaffna Cultural Centre which will come up near the iconic Jaffna library.