India's Proximity Archives
Date: November 29, 2023
South Asia
India-Bangladesh Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) were held in New Delhi on November 24. There were comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues covering border and security, trade, commerce and connectivity, cooperation in water, power and energy sectors, people to people ties and development cooperation in Bangladesh. Dhaka requested New Delhi to expedite the process of signing the Teesta River water deal and other treaties concerning shared rivers during meeting.
Southeast Asia
The President of Vietnam, Vo Van Thuong, commenced his first official visit to Japan on November 27. At their summit in Tokyo, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Thuong agreed to elevate the relationship to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” The two sides agreed to increase defence-related exchanges, discuss cooperation under Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) program, and expand cooperation in the fields of economic security, energy, digital transformation, people-to-people exchanges and regional security. President Thuong remarked that “upgraded ties opened a new chapter in bilateral relations as the two countries become even more closely aligned”.
East Asia
The 10th Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting between Japan, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea was convened in Busan, Republic of Korea on November 26. The ministers agreed to renew trilateral cooperation in the latest move to ease tensions between the three countries. Chinese FM Wang Yi urged the three countries to promote East Asia cooperation and “adhere to open regionalism, oppose ideological demarcation, and resist turning regional cooperation into camp politics”. The Ministers also agreed to create conditions for a China-Japan-South Korea leaders’ Summit and step up all relevant preparatory work.
West Asia
The US and Qatar confirmed that Israel and Hamas had agreed to extend a four-day temporary truce in Gaza for another two days on November 27. Hamas began releasing Israeli hostages on November 24, and Israel has reportedly released 180 Palestinian prisoners. President Biden welcomed the release of the hostages and reiterated that the US will not cease its efforts until Hamas releases all hostages. Since the conflict began, more than 14,800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, most of them civilians.
China
China has provided the World Health Organization (WHO) with data about a recent pneumonia outbreak among children in the country. The WHO publicly requested this information using the International Health Regulations mechanism after receiving reports of “undiagnosed pneumonia” in northern China from ProMed, the outbreak surveillance network that first alerted the world to Covid-19. Some Western health experts have suggested that the pneumonia outbreak is linked to China's stringent pandemic lockdown.
Central Asia
The Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation convened in Minsk, Belarus on November 23. The participants engaged in a constructive dialogue about improving the collective security system and addressing the current international and regional challenges. During his address, Russian President Putin highlighted that the CSTO has formed stronger ties with its “natural partners” like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The Armenian President was absent from the meeting, indicating the growing strain in Armenia’s relations with Russia.
India-Bangladesh Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) were held in New Delhi on November 24. There were comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues covering border and security, trade, commerce and connectivity, cooperation in water, power and energy sectors, people to people ties and development cooperation in Bangladesh. Dhaka requested New Delhi to expedite the process of signing the Teesta River water deal and other treaties concerning shared rivers during meeting.
Southeast Asia
The President of Vietnam, Vo Van Thuong, commenced his first official visit to Japan on November 27. At their summit in Tokyo, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Thuong agreed to elevate the relationship to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” The two sides agreed to increase defence-related exchanges, discuss cooperation under Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) program, and expand cooperation in the fields of economic security, energy, digital transformation, people-to-people exchanges and regional security. President Thuong remarked that “upgraded ties opened a new chapter in bilateral relations as the two countries become even more closely aligned”.
East Asia
The 10th Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting between Japan, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea was convened in Busan, Republic of Korea on November 26. The ministers agreed to renew trilateral cooperation in the latest move to ease tensions between the three countries. Chinese FM Wang Yi urged the three countries to promote East Asia cooperation and “adhere to open regionalism, oppose ideological demarcation, and resist turning regional cooperation into camp politics”. The Ministers also agreed to create conditions for a China-Japan-South Korea leaders’ Summit and step up all relevant preparatory work.
West Asia
The US and Qatar confirmed that Israel and Hamas had agreed to extend a four-day temporary truce in Gaza for another two days on November 27. Hamas began releasing Israeli hostages on November 24, and Israel has reportedly released 180 Palestinian prisoners. President Biden welcomed the release of the hostages and reiterated that the US will not cease its efforts until Hamas releases all hostages. Since the conflict began, more than 14,800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, most of them civilians.
China
China has provided the World Health Organization (WHO) with data about a recent pneumonia outbreak among children in the country. The WHO publicly requested this information using the International Health Regulations mechanism after receiving reports of “undiagnosed pneumonia” in northern China from ProMed, the outbreak surveillance network that first alerted the world to Covid-19. Some Western health experts have suggested that the pneumonia outbreak is linked to China's stringent pandemic lockdown.
Central Asia
The Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation convened in Minsk, Belarus on November 23. The participants engaged in a constructive dialogue about improving the collective security system and addressing the current international and regional challenges. During his address, Russian President Putin highlighted that the CSTO has formed stronger ties with its “natural partners” like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The Armenian President was absent from the meeting, indicating the growing strain in Armenia’s relations with Russia.
