Prime Minister Singh meets Russian President during G8 Summit
9 July 2008, Hokkaido Toyako |
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh meeting with the President of Russia, Mr. Dmitry A. Medvedev at Hokkaido, at Hokkaido, Japan on July 09, 2008. |
There was significant India-Russia bilateral as well as multilateral interaction during July 2008. We present the highlights:
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met with the President of Russia H.E. Mr. Dmitry Medvedev in Hokkaido on 9 July on the sidelines of the G8 Summit in Japan. Bilateral cooperation and regional and international issues of importance to both sides were reviewed at the meeting. President Medvedev made it a point to convey his sincere condolences to the families of Indian diplomats who lost their lives in the dastardly terrorist attack at the Indian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia on also issued a statement on 7 July condemning the inhuman act. President Medvedev confirmed to Dr. Singh that he would be visiting India later this year.
The first Brazil-Russia-India-China (BRIC) Summit was held on 9 July in Hokkaido. It was attended by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, President Medvedev, President Lula de Silva, and President Hu Jintao. The four leaders decided to hold the next BRIC Summit in New York.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had a telephone conversation with President Medvedev on 24 July. This was the second time that the two leaders spoke on the phone since Mr. Dmitry Medvedev became President in May this year.
The Leaders of the BRIC Countries, the President of Brazil, Mr. Lula da Silva, the President of Russia,
Mr. Dmitry A. Medvedev, the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh and the President of China,
Mr. Hu Jintao in a G8 meeting.
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The India-Russia-China trilateral official-level meeting on Disaster Management and Mitigation was held in Samara, Russia on 29 July 2008. Shri Prabhanshu Kamal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, represented India at the meeting. Consultations were also held with the Russian side on 30 July on the Draft Agreement on Emergency Preparedness.
The Thirteenth Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission (IRIGC) sub-group on land systems was held from June 23-27, 2008 at Sochi, Russia. An 8-member team from India participated in the session. Issues concerning ongoing military-technical cooperation and identification of areas for future cooperation were discussed at the meeting. |
G-5 Political Declaration
8 July 2008, Sapporo, Japan |
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh with the President of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Hu Jintao at a meeting during the G-8 Summit at Sapporo, in Japan on July 08, 2008. |
Here is the political declaration made by the Leaders of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, gathered in Sapporo, Japan, on 8 July 2008.
1. Mankind is at a critical historical crossroad. The potential of globalization and innovation to raise living standards is unprecedented, but so are social and sustainable development challenges around the world.
2. The interrelationships of a global economic slowdown marked by financial uncertainty, the persistence of trade protectionist distortions, soaring food and oil prices, and the threats posed by climate change add complexity to the current scenario.
3. Our increasing interdependence demands an integrated and concerted response to these global challenges. We must ensure development and prosperity on a sustainable path, both within and across nations. That is the historical challenge of our generation. To achieve this fundamental goal, we must act in a coordinated manner to ensure equitable growth with care for the environment, taking appropriate account of cross-border interactions in fulfillment of our shared responsibility.
World Economy:
4. The global economy continues to expand, but at a slower rate than in previous years. Most emerging and developing economies have proved resilient so far to adverse circumstances. Nevertheless, the international community as a whole faces important policy challenges to maintaining financial stability and mitigating global economic risks. Headline inflation is of particular concern.
5. We reaffirm our commitment to the establishment of a stable and orderly international financial system, more transparent and legitimate. The voice and representation of developing countries in the decision making of international financial institutions should be significantly improved, especially at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
6. Given current global macroeconomic imbalances, it is essential to enhance policy coordination not only among advanced economies but also with emerging market economies, including by reinforcing existing multilateral mechanisms for coordination. The Financial G-20 is an appropriate forum for this endeavor.
7. The global financial architecture and its surveillance capacities must be also strengthened to contribute to the prevention and resolution of potential financial crises but, more importantly, to support sustainable development. In particular, it is necessary to provide international financial institutions with an adequate array of instruments to preserve global financial stability and smoothen the supply shocks derived from higher food and oil prices, especially in support of least developed and middle income countries.
8. The world economic outlook lends urgency to the establishment of a just, open, reasonable and non-discriminatory international trade system. It is essential to achieve an early conclusion to the Doha Round that fully supports development in accordance with its agreed mandate. Developed countries must dismantle barriers and distortions, especially agriculture subsidies and domestic support that affect the overall efforts of developing countries. This would provide a much needed impetus to global economic growth and would positively contribute to an enabling environment for development.
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Ambassador Inaugurates Painting Exhibition
On the Cultural side, a painting exhibition by noted painter Lyudmila Eliseeva was held at the DP Dhar Hall of the Embassy in Moscow on 17 July. The exhibition entitled “The Path of Beauty” was inaugurated by the Ambassador, and witnessed participation by the Pro-Rector of the Russian School of Private Law attached to the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, Mr. Yury Andreevich Ageshin and Ms. Eliseeva. Ms. Eliseeva has held several painting exhibitions in Russia and abroad and has been an honoured painter of the USSR. Her work is influenced by the late Baba Virsa Singh, noted Sikh spiritual leader, and she has spent time at Gobind Sadan, his ashram established near Delhi. Her paintings reflect the deep spiritual influence of India on her. The event was well-attended and ended with a reception. Ms. Lubov Basurmanova played Gusli-a Russian musical instrument at the event and presented a few songs.
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Odissi performance and Lecture held
Mrs. Sujatha Mohapatra, distinguished Odissi dancer and disciple and daughter-in-law of Late Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra visited Moscow from 10-19 July at the invitation from the ‘Odissi Jeevan Nritya’, a local group headed by Ms. Vitalina Lobach, herself an Odissi dancer and an alumnus of Indian dance schools. Mrs. Mohapatra conducted master classes for her students at the JNCC. She also gave a lecture-cum-demonstration at the DP Dhar Hall on 18 July. Her presentation was widely attended and greatly appreciated. She also gave a public performance on 11 July at the Dom Kultury Energetikov in Moscow. |
Delhi School kids participate in Tenth World Festival of Children’s Theatre In Moscow
Significantly, twelve children from the Ryan International School, New Delhi visited Moscow during 16-26 July to participate in the Tenth World Festival of Children’s Theatre held in Moscow. The group’s visit was sponsored by the Ryan Foundation of India and was led by its Director, Mr. Utkarsh Marwah. Over 20 countries participated in the festival. The Indian presentation titled “Bhow Bhow Khow Khow” was held on 22 July at the prestigious Saad Hermitage Theatre in Moscow, and received a wide appreciation. The children later visited the JNCC and were given a briefing and a tour of the Centre. A joint dance workshop of Indian and Russian dance students of the Centre was also conducted, much to the childrens’ happiness. |
India going strong in $40 bn ESO market:F&S
The global engineering services outsourcing (ESO) market is estimated to be around $40 billion by 2015 and India is holding a relatively strong position in this market with its strengths in automotive, aerospace and hi-tech telecom sectors, said a leading industry research major Frost & Sullivan. "India's strengths lie in the automotive, aerospace and hi-tech telecom sectors accompanied by a large talent pool and experience in this field. The growth in engineering services signifies the need for global companies to expand their R&D centres beyond their home countries," the research company said. Another attractive factor for these global manufacturers is low labour cost along with quality; one of the main reasons that makes India a major outsourcing destination, it added. According to F&S, Indian engineering service providers are technically proficient and have a fervent eye for detail ensuring that service levels remain better than competing countries. Most of the Indian engineering services providers are at par with competition and offer an array of services, which include computer aided design (CAD), computer aided manufacturing (CAM), computer aided engineering (CAE).
Source :
The Financial Express |
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