India's Proximity Archives
Date: January 31, 2024
South Asia
India’s Foreign Secretary, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, visited Bhutan from January 29-31, 2024. The first official consultation occurs after the recent general elections in Bhutan, with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) winning majority seats and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay leading the government. During the visit, India’s Foreign Secretary called on King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and the Foreign Affairs Minister D. N. Dhungyel. Mr Kwatra held bilateral consultations with the Foreign Secretary of Bhutan, Aum Pema Choden, and discussed issues related to development partnership, the 13th Five-Year Plan, cooperation in energy, trade, technology, connectivity, infrastructure, economic ties, and people-to-people connections between the two countries.
India’s Foreign Secretary, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, visited Bhutan from January 29-31, 2024. The first official consultation occurs after the recent general elections in Bhutan, with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) winning majority seats and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay leading the government. During the visit, India’s Foreign Secretary called on King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and the Foreign Affairs Minister D. N. Dhungyel. Mr Kwatra held bilateral consultations with the Foreign Secretary of Bhutan, Aum Pema Choden, and discussed issues related to development partnership, the 13th Five-Year Plan, cooperation in energy, trade, technology, connectivity, infrastructure, economic ties, and people-to-people connections between the two countries.
Southeast Asia
Philippines President Marcos Jr. commenced a two-day state visit to Hanoi on January 29, 2024. In his meeting with Vietnam's President Vo Van Thuong, President Marcos stated that “he hopes his visit would bring their relations to greater heights and usher in a new era of friendship and cooperation". The two sides signed two memorandums of understanding on security covering "incident prevention in the South China Sea” and “maritime cooperation” among coast guards. President Marcos is scheduled to meet Vietnam's top officials to reach agreements on rice supply.
East Asia
China’s Vice-Foreign Minister, Sun Weidong, held a meeting with his North Korean counterpart Pak Myong Ho in Pyongyang on January 26, 2024. The two sides agreed to strengthen tactical cooperation and defend common interests, as reported by the North’s official KCNA news agency. China stated that the two countries pledged to strengthen strategic communications “at all levels” and reaffirmed an “unswerving stance” on deepening ties.
China’s Vice-Foreign Minister, Sun Weidong, held a meeting with his North Korean counterpart Pak Myong Ho in Pyongyang on January 26, 2024. The two sides agreed to strengthen tactical cooperation and defend common interests, as reported by the North’s official KCNA news agency. China stated that the two countries pledged to strengthen strategic communications “at all levels” and reaffirmed an “unswerving stance” on deepening ties.
West Asia
Three US service members were killed in a drone attack on US forces in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border on January 27. This attack was attributed to Iran-backed militant groups operating in Iraq and Syria, and President Biden pledged to respond without triggering a regional conflict. Meanwhile, in response to allegations that UNRWA staff members were involved in the October 7, 2023 terror attack on Israel, the US, Australia, Canada, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Finland have halted funding for the agency. US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stressed that reports about UNRWA staff members were “deeply troubling”, adding that the organisation cannot be replaced as a major humanitarian aid provider.
Three US service members were killed in a drone attack on US forces in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border on January 27. This attack was attributed to Iran-backed militant groups operating in Iraq and Syria, and President Biden pledged to respond without triggering a regional conflict. Meanwhile, in response to allegations that UNRWA staff members were involved in the October 7, 2023 terror attack on Israel, the US, Australia, Canada, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Finland have halted funding for the agency. US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stressed that reports about UNRWA staff members were “deeply troubling”, adding that the organisation cannot be replaced as a major humanitarian aid provider.
China
The European Union (EU) has reportedly suspended its complaint at the WTO against China over the so-called economic coercion of Lithuania, citing “technical reasons”. Chinese experts stressed that China-EU economic ties are mutually beneficial, and the EU should commit to maintaining the healthy development of the ties, which should not be “hijacked” by Lithuania’s missteps.EU trade spokesman Olof Gill said, “this is a procedural step taken for technical reasons related to the need to assess certain elements arising from the preparation of written submissions”. According to the report, the suspension will be for an “indeterminate period of time,” but the bloc has one year to resume the dispute.
Central Asia
The Global Gateway Investors Forum for the European Union-Central Asia Transport Connectivity commenced in Brussels on January 29. During the plenary session, European Commission Executive Vice President, Valdis Dombrovskis announced that European and other international financial institutions will commit 10 billion euros (US $ 10.2 billion) in support and investments towards the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), which connects Europe and Central Asia. As part of the forum’s proceedings, the European Investment Bank (EIB) Global also signed a memorandum of understanding for project co-financing with Kazakhstan (including the Development Bank of Kazakhstan), the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan worth 1.47 billion euros (US$1.6 billion).
