The Arctic Shortcut: China’s Northern Sea Route and the Rewiring of Global Maritime Trade

The Arctic Shortcut: China’s Northern Sea Route and the Rewiring of Global Maritime Trade

As Arctic ice retreats, geography itself is being rewritten. The Northern Sea Route illustrates how environmental change, technological innovation, commercial strategy, and geopolitics are converging to reshape international trade.

South Asia's Balance of Payments Challenge: The Changing Dynamics of External Balances in South Asia

South Asia remains one of the least integrated regions in the world despite geographical proximity and complementary economic structures. Greater regional trade, improved transport connectivity, cross-border electricity markets, digital payment systems and investment partnerships could substantially reduce external vulnerabilities. 

India's Employment Debate: A Future With Plenty of Work, But Fewer Jobs

Between 2004 and 2023, India produced roughly five million graduates every year, but graduate employment increased by only around 2.8 million annually. Even fewer obtained salaried employment. Millions are either unemployed or working below their qualifications or in the waiting room for the elusive government job. 

How Sri Lanka Missed the Opportunity to Become a 200-billion dollar economy

Policy instability during the 2015-2024 likely pushed back Sri Lanka’s path towards becoming South Asia’s first High-Income Country. The 2022 financial crisis would never have happened as stable growth during the first half of 2015–2024 would have built enough buffer to weather impact of the Covid pandemic 

More on Economy, Trade and Development

Chinese President XI asks troops to 'put minds and energy on preparing for war'

At a time when the seventh round of India and China military talks to resolve the border disputes in Eastern Ladakh have ended in a deadlock, Chinese President Xi Jinping has told his soldiers, "We must put all our minds and energy on preparing for war."

China says Sri Lanka willing to promote BRI projects

Sri Lanka is willing to make every effort to promote China’s Belt and Road (BRI) projects in the country and Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa publicly refuted the claim that China had set up a debt trap to control Sri Lanka, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday

Sri Lanka, China sign supplementary agreement on water supply, technology cooperation

Sri Lanka and China on Wednesday signed a supplementary agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding on water research and technology cooperation, aimed at providing clean drinking water to several areas of the country, a statement from the Chinese Embassy in Colombo said

India, China talks to de-escalate border tensions ends in deadlock

The seventh round of India and China military talks to resolve border disputes in Eastern Ladakh have ended in a deadlock

After Pompeo reveals 60,000 PLA troops along LAC, China calls Ladakh's status illegal

Three days after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo revealed that China has deployed 60,000 soldiers along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) against India, Beijing said that it does not recognise Ladakhs Union Territory (UT) status granted by New Delhi

Sri Lanka would be among first destinations for Chinese tourists after COVID-19, China assures

Upon request from Sri Lanka, China has assured that the Indian Ocean island nation would be among first destinations for Chinese tourists when travels resume after COVID-19 pandemic

Chinese envoy refutes economic minister's comments on FTA

Ambassador of China to Maldives Zhang Lizhong, on Monday, responded to the recent allegations raised by Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail regarding the free trade agreement signed with China during the presidency of Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom

Sri Lanka in talks to obtain USD 700 mn loan from China

Discussions are underway with China to obtain a loan facility of USD 700 million, state minister of money Ajith Nivard Cabraal has said

Rohingya: Dhaka wants Suu Kyi to join talks in Beijing

Bangladesh wants Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to be present at a tripartite meeting in Beijing, as proposed by China to discuss Rohingya repatriation issues

Maldives economic minister does not support China-Maldives FTA

The Free Trade Agreement established between Maldives and China during the administration of former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom will hinder trade relations with other countries, Maldives’ Economic Minister has stated

Nepali Congress-led team reports Chinese encroachment in Humla

A team led by Nepali Congress lawmaker of Karnali Province Jeevan Bahadur Shahi that returned from an 11-day visit to Nepal-China border in Humla district has accused China of encroaching Nepal’s territory in the district

China grants Sri Lanka $89 million for the well-being of people after high-level visit

China announced Sunday that it was providing a 600 million RMB Yuan ($89.6 million) grant assistance to Sri Lanka for the well-being of Sri Lankan people

China's BRI promised prosperity, gave debt trap to countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives

Several countries like Sri Lanka, Zambia, Djibouti, Laos, Maldives, Republic of Congo, Tonga, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, among others, where China has invested through its much-hyped Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have run into serious financial threat and debt trap, contrary to the expectation that the infrastructure exercise would help in their economic growth

Pakistan's Orange Line metro train project under CPEC completed

The Orange Line Metro Train project in Lahore under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has been completed and was delivered to the Pakistani side, it was announced

Sri Lanka PM seeks China’s support to rebuild investor confidence and tourism industry

A seven-member high-level Chinese delegation led by former Chinese Foreign Minister and current member of the Communist Party Political Bureau Yang Jiechi called on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa at Temple Trees Friday (Oct 09)