Meira Kumar leads parliamentary delegation to Belarus
New Delhi, 18 May 18 (IANS) Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Saturday left for Belarus leading an Indian parliamentary delegation to the east European country.
Ahead of Karzai visit, India says willing to discuss security concerns
New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Ahead of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's visit, India said Saturday it was ready to discuss and consider Afghanistan's reported request for arms supplies provided it is raised through the proper fora. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said at a media briefing that the two countries had mechanisms available to address all issues, including those relating to security post the 2014 drawdown of the international forces from Afghanistan. "Our view is that there is a mechanism available, and within our modest means as a developing country, we will continue to discuss and respond to specific requests from the Afghan government," he said
Chinese Premier Li arrives Sunday, to discuss border and more (Curtain Raiser)
New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) All issues, including the boundary question, would be on the table when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meet here Sunday evening for talks. Li, who arrives in India Sunday afternoon on a three-day state visit, and Manmohan Singh are also likely to discuss the proposed border defence cooperation agreement during their talks, sources said Saturday. Li's visit comes days after the 20-day India-China border stand-off was resolved on May 5.
18 May 2013 
IANS 
China ,Diplomacy ,International ,News
`Li’s trip shows China keen to enhance ties with India’
Beijing, May 18 (IANS) The choice of India as the first leg of Li Keqiang's maiden overseas trip as Chinese premier has sent out a clear signal that Beijing's new leadership prioritizes enhancing ties with New Delhi but that "the two nations cannot fully restore mutual trust without resolving the border dispute", Xinhua news agency said in a commentary on Saturday. "The rationale is simple: With China and India being the world's two largest developing countries and most populous nations - accounting for about 40 percent of the global population, a sour and bitter relationship would serve the interests of neither side," Xinhua said. It said that in recent talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li reaffirmed China's commitment to fostering stronger bilateral ties while effectively managing border problems and other thorny issues
Chinese Premier Li arrives Sunday; to discuss border and more
New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) All issues would be on the table, including the India-China boundary question, when Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here Sunday evening. Li, who arrives in India Sunday afternoon on a three-day state visit, and Manmohan Singh are also likely to discuss the proposed border defence cooperation agreement during their talks, sources said Saturday. Li's visit comes days after the 20-day India-China border stand-off was resolved May
18 May 2013
IANS
Diplomacy ,Egypt ,International ,News
UAE, Egypt discuss cooperation in civil aviation
Cairo, May 18 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirtaes (UAE) and Egypt have held talks over enhancing cooperation in the civil aviation sector. The meet was held Thursday between Saif Mohamed Al Suwaidi, the UAE's director general of General Civil Aviation Authority, and Mohamed Ibrahim Sharif, the chairman of Egypt's Civil Aviation Authority. The meeting also discussed coordination ahead of the general assembly elections of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), to be held in September.
18 May 2013
IANS
Defence ,Diplomacy ,International ,News ,Russian Federation
UN chief regrets experts’ inability to visit Syria
Moscow, May 18 (IANS) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed regret over the inability of experts, investigating the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria, to visit the country. "It is regrettable that the team in charge of this investigation was unable to visit Syria and conduct its inquiry on the spot," reported Xinhua citing the UN chief while talking to reporters after meeting Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. Lavrov, for his part, maintained the Syria crisis could be resolved only via an intra-Syria dialogue without outside interference
18 May 2013
IANS
Business ,Diplomacy ,International ,News ,United Arab Emirates
UAE, Mozambique sign air transport accord
Dubai, May 18 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Mozambique have signed a bilateral accord covering air transport. The agreement will pave the way for airlines to launch services for the movement of passengers and cargo, and will serve as a basis for the growth of trade and investment and the development of partnerships in sectors such as tourism. The accord was signed by UAE's minister for economy Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri and Mozambique's transport minister Paulo Zucula
17 May 2013
IANS
China ,Diplomacy ,International ,News
Chinese vice premier to attend AU special summit
Beijing, May 17 (IANS) Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang will pay an official visit to Zimbabwe and attend a special summit of the African Union in Ethiopia from May 21 to 25, reported Xinhua. Wang will attend the special summit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Organization for African Unity, the predecessor to the African Union.
Don’t dilute autonomy, India tells Sri Lanka
New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) India has told Sri Lanka not to dilute the autonomous powers granted to its Tamil-majority northern province ahead of provincial elections, official sources said Friday. External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid also sought the early release of 31 Indian fishermen detained in Sri Lanka
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