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

China slams India's new FDI norms, says it violates WTO rules

Just days after India amended the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy to check opportunistic takeovers of Indian companies amid the Covid-19 pandemic, China on Monday criticised the move and said that it violates the World Trade Organizations principle of non-discrimination

Assam state not to use PPE kits imported from China

Amid controversy in the Assam, the government in India's northeastern state China said it would not, for now, use the 50,000 PPE kits that it imported from China, state Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said

Chinese investment under scanner, as India tweaks law post-Covid

In a move presumably aimed at blocking China and its companies from opportunistic takeovers of Indian companies due to the Covid pandemic and subsequent crisis, India has clarified that foreign investments from countries with which India shares land border shall be only after government approval

Another Chinese plane carrying medical aid arrives in Sri Lanka

Another Chinese plane carrying medical aid for Sri Lanka arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake Friday evening

Unable to get India to sign up for BRI, China penetrates through tech

Unable to persuade India to sign on to its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China has entered the Indian market through venture investments in start-ups and penetrated the online ecosystem with its popular smartphones and their applications (apps)

Two Chinese foundations donate testing kits to Sri Lanka

China's Alibaba Foundation and Jack Ma Foundation have donated 20,000 COVID-19 testing kits to Sri Lanka, in a bid to scale up testing on the island

India's Assam state receives 50,000 imported PPE kits from China

The government in the northeast Indian state of Assam on Wednesday imported 50,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) kits from China for the frontline healthcare workers combating the Covid-19 pandemic in the state

Pakistan urges China to soften terms for power deals

Pakistan has requested China for ease in payment obligations of over $30 billion worth of about 12,000-megawatt power projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to minimise its financial and economic difficulties

Nepal seeks Chinese support for medical supplis

Nepal's Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has requested China's cooperation and facilitation for the purchase of essential medicines and medical equipment on G-to-G basis

China aids Afghanistan with medical supplies

In the past five months since arrival in Afghanistan, I have met friends from all walks of life and been deeply impressed by the Afghan hospitality, diligence and courage

Twitter suspends account of Chinese Embassy in Colombo

Social media giant Twitter has suspended the account of the Chinese Embassy in Colombo, days after it had responded to allegations against China using undiplomatic language. “We have already applied to unlock the account,” a spokesman for the embassy told News1st

Xi'an municipality of China donates medical supplies to Nepal

The Xi'an municipality of Shaanxi province of China, has provided medical supplies in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic

People's Bank of China increases stake in India's HDFC

The People's Bank of China has increased its stake in India's banking and financial services company HDFC to 1.01 percent. The central bank of China currently has nearly 1.75 crore shares in HDFC during the quarter ended March, according to data submitted by the company at the BSE

India slams China for raking up Kashmir at UN

The  Indain government on Thursday slammed China at the United Nations for raking up India's internal matters and its failure to recognize Pakistan's cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir

Scope of CPEC to be enhanced in the second phase

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is making steady progress, and its scope will be further enhanced in the second phase, a top Pakistani official said