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

Chinese soldier detained by India, to be released soon

India detained a Chinese soldier in the Demchok sector in the disputed border in Eastern Ladakh. As per established protocols, he will be returned to Chinese officials at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point after completion of formalities

India stars in Taiwan's 'new southbound policy'

Taiwan has launched its "new southbound policy", which is looking at setting up large scale production bases in India, in tune with a surge in the New Delhi-Taipei engagement

Quad can play a key role in curbing China's belligerence

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity for the QUAD countries to contain China in the Indo-Pacific but there remain several caveats

India, China militaries to hold eighth round of talks over border dispute

Indian and Chinese military commanders will meet for the eighth time next week to deliberate on resolving the border dispute in eastern Ladakh, after all earlier rounds of talks ended up in deadlock with no sign of de-escalation at the Line of Actual Control even as the winter is setting in

Tibetan leader invited to US State Department for first time

In a strong message to Beijing, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) President Lobsang Sangay has been invited formally to the US State Department, officials said on Friday

Maldives, China discuss boosting economic cooperation

Maldives and China engaged in discussions on Thursday, to explore economic cooperation in a post COVID-19 environment

Sri Lanka cannot alienate other creditors and solve debt problems with only China: Opposition MP

Sri Lanka’s cannot alienate other creditors and solve its debt problem by banking on China alone, with sovereign bond investors now taking about what would happen in the event of a credit event, Harsha de Silva, an opposition legislator said

US appoints special officer for Tibet

A day after President Xi Jinping called on Chinese troops to prepare for war, the United States appointed a senior official as its special coordinator for Tibetan issues

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