President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri

Slow Pace of Strategic Indian Projects: These Can Potentially be Gateways to Sri Lanka’s Economic Revival

For India, delays in its strategic projects are not merely bureaucratic setbacks but a matter of national security. Colombo’s motives remain opaque, but for New Delhi, a presence in Sri Lanka’s North and East is non-negotiable. 

Beyond De-Dollarisation: Payment Diversification and Debt Resilience for Global South Nations

India could potentially become a bridge between regional economies and the wider Asian and Global South payment architecture. Greater interoperability could support remittances, tourism, trade and financial inclusion while reducing some transaction costs.

Critical Minerals: The New Oil of the 21st Century?

Critical minerals are not literally the new oil, but they may play a comparable role in defining the balance of power. The race has already begun, and India’s preparedness will determine whether it merely secures access to the resources of the new century or helps shape the industrial order that emerges from them.

Trade Pivot Weakens Pakistan’s Grip on Afghanistan, as Others Move in

Afghanistan has sought to limit or reduce its structural vulnerability by moving trade through Iran’s Chabahar Port and Central Asian corridors. Kabul is realigning Afghanistan’s external economic geography by looking towards Iran, Central Asia, China and India.

More on Economy, Trade and Development

CPEC hydropower project 88 percent complete

Work on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor’s (CPEC) first hydropower project is now 88 percent complete, its top official said

Bangladesh receives 500,000 doses of Chinese Sinopharm vaccines

Bangladesh received 500,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday from China, reported The Daily Star

“We decide our foreign policy”: Bangladesh responds to Chinese threat over Quad

Bangladesh is an independent, sovereign country and we decide our own foreign policy, said Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momin, in response to what seemed like a threatening comment by the Chinese envoy over Quad

Bangladesh won’t get commercial supply of Chinese vaccine so soon, says ambassador

Bangladesh will have to wait for some time to get the first commercial supply of Covid 19 vaccines from China, according to Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Li Jiming

China warns of damage to bilateral ties if Bangladesh joins Quad

China has warned Bangladesh that their bilateral ties would be "substantially damaged" if Dhaka participated in any form in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, better known as Quad

Circular debt hits CPEC projects

The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) power projects have been affected by circular debt and the Pakistani government has not been able to clear Rs 188 billion due payments in breach of a bilateral energy framework agreement, media reports said

China to create 'line of separation' on Mount Everest over COVID-19 fear in Nepal

As the Everest base camp in Nepal reported several COVID-19 cases, China has decided to create a “line of separation” at the summit to prevent climbers from COVID-19 hit Nepal from mingling with those from the Chinese side

China 'working closely' for co-production of Covid vaccine in Sri Lanka

China has said it was working closely with Sri Lankan authorities to encourage collaboration among biotech companies of the two countries to produce a covid vaccine in the island nation

China reluctant to approve loan to Pakistan citing mounting debt

Expressing concern over Pakistan’s growing debt, China has shown reluctance to approve USD 6 billion loan for the Mainline-I (ML-I) railway track -- the single largest project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor -- according to the record of a meeting and senior Pakistani officials, Express Tribune reported

Chinese Covid vaccine processed in Pakistan to be available by May end: Minister

The first batch of a Chinese made Covid 19 vaccine being processed in Pakistan would be available for use by May end, a senior Minister said

Pakistan witnessing sharp decline in pangolin numbers due to Chinese demand

Pakistan's deep bond with China also costs its wildlife species

$354 million power extension project in Pakistan awarded to Chinese firm

Authorities in Pakistan have awarded a hydropower extension project worth $354 million to a Chinese firm, reported Dawn

US lawmaker welcomes India's decision not to allow Chinese telecom companies for 5G trials

A top US lawmaker has welcomed India's decision to not allow Chinese telecom companies to conduct 5G trials in the nation, a move seen as a strong message sent to Beijing by New Delhi

With China in mind, India, Australia, France vow to create rules-based Indo-Pacific

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, and Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne met in London for the first India-France-Australia Trilateral Ministerial Dialogue on 4 May on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting where they once again reiterated the commitment to advance shared values and working together to achieve a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific

Pakistan to seek debt restructuring from China

In a bid to preempt any possibility of raising power tariff, Pakistan will seek debt restructuring of USD 3 billion against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) energy projects, a top official said