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India’s Modi brings home $22 billion in China deals

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Hürriyet: 15.05.17 India’s Modi brings home $22 billion in China deals Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and Mongolian Prime Minister Chimed Saikhanbileg shake hands during a signing ceremony in Ulan Bator on May 17, 2015. “Let us work together in mutual interest and for progress and prosperity of our great countries,” Modi told executives from 200 Chinese and Indian companies at a business forum in the Chinese commercial hub Shanghai. “Now India is ready for business.” The nationalist leader was on the final day of a three-day trip to his fellow Asian giant, as the two jockey for regional influence and India’s trade deficit with China balloons. Despite his hardline reputation, Modi has moved to engage with Beijing since his election last year, and he was looking for an economic boost from the visit, seeking to deliver on election promises for foreign investment. China is India’s biggest trading partner with two-way commerce totalling $71 billion (62 billion euros) in 2014. But India’s trade deficit with China has soared from just $1 billion in 2001-02 to more than $38 billion last year, Indian figures show. Indian embassy trade counsellor Namgya Khanpa said the 21 agreements signed at the Shanghai event were “worth over $22 billion,” with another five exchanged earlier. Many of the contracts were for Chinese banks to finance Indian firms, and also included deals in the telecom, steel, solar energy and film sectors, she said. They included an agreement for the China Development Bank to fund a power plant for India’s Adani Power, as well as a steel project between Indian conglomerate Welspun and two Chinese firms, according to a list released by Indian officials. No individual deal values were given. Modi welcomed potential Chinese investment in sectors including housing, renewable energy, high-speed rail, metro, ports and airports, adding that India was eager to draw on China’s expertise in mass manufacturing. “We are very keen to develop the sectors where China is strong,” he told the business forum ahead of the signing ceremony. “We need your involvement. “I strongly believe that this century belongs to Asia,” he said as he sought to stress historical links between the two countries. But they have followed significantly different economic paths in recent decades, with China rising to become the world’s second-largest economy while India has lagged behind, although Modi’s election raised hopes for reform among investors. Earlier during Modi’s visit Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed him in Xian, the capital of his ancestral home province Shaanxi, in what his host said was an unprecedented gesture. Nonetheless relations between the world’s two most populous nations are soured by a long-running border dispute that saw them fight a brief war in 1962, and on Friday Modi told Premier Li Keqiang that China needs to “reconsider its approach” to their ties. “Our relationship has been complex in recent decades,” Modi said in Beijing, adding there were issues that “trouble smooth development of our relations”. His comments stood out from the usual public declarations by diplomatic visitors to the Chinese capital, who normally stick to uninterrupted pledges of friendship and good relations. Both countries are members of the BRICS grouping of major emerging economies, but China has vowed to pour investment into India’s arch-rival Pakistan as it rolls out infrastructure development plans across Asia, much of which bypass India. On May 16, Modi also opened a centre for Indian and Gandhian studies - referring to the former Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi - at prestigious Fudan University. Zaman: 15.05.17 Historical visit of Indian Prime Minister to Mongolia Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Mongolia for a number of talks. Prime Minister Modi said this is his first official visit to Mongolia as a prime minister. Modi also expressed his contentment the visit was scheduled to match the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi first met with Mongolia’s President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj. Afterward Modi met with Mongolia’s Prime Minister Chimed Saikhanbileg. Later Modi addressed the members of the assembly. Here Modi said to give one billion American dollars with a low interest to Mongolia. The Indian Prime Minister also said to have signed a number of agreements on education, medicine, culture, security training, energy, animal health and milk products, internet security and other fields between the two countries. After the two days official visit to Mongolia, Prime Minister Modi will go on to South Korea. Dünya: 15.05.15 Record cooperation between India and China A 10 billion dollar record trade agreement has been signed between Asia’s largest two countries. 24 trade agreements worth 10 billion dollar have been signed between Asia’s shining star India and the world’s second largest economy China. Both visit and business India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not return with empty hands from his first visit to China. Modi signed 24 trade agreements worth 10 billion dollar with his counterpart Li Keqiang on education to rail systems and on mining to space exploration. Commenting on the record cooperation Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said: “Today we have signed agreements consolidating our cooperation in 24 different fields. This is showing our mutual relations and partnership is profound and genuine.” ‘The most important step of our strategic partnership’ Mentioning to want to see more Chinese investors in India, Narendra Modi said: “We are aiming at a new direction in our relations as Asia’s largest two countries. These agreements are the most important step of our strategic partnership.” Being on a three days visit to China, Modi and Keqiang shared close poses by making a selfie. Bugün: 15.05.15 Indian Prime Minister in China for balance: 25 cooperation agreements signed In Peking 24 cooperation documents have been signed between the world’s two most crowded countries and neighbours India and China. China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang hosted India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Large Meeting Palace of the People in Peking. Welcoming Modi with a military ceremony and conveying warm messages, Li emphasized the development of relations between the two countries. 24 cooperation documents have been signed between Li and Modi on railroads, mining, education, space, quality control, cinema and television, and in the field of seas and earthquakes. Border issues have also been discussed during the talks. In recent days China felt discomfort about India’s efforts to get close with the USA. Following a policy of balance, Modi aims at mutual trust with Peking by means of the China visit. After the 3 days visit of Modi with talks in Peking and later in Shanghai, he will return to his country. 15.05.17 Historical visit of Indian Prime Minister to Mongolia Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Mongolia for a number of talks. Prime Minister Modi said this is his first official visit to Mongolia as a prime minister. Modi also expressed his contentment the visit was scheduled to match the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi first met with Mongolia’s President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj. Afterward Modi met with Mongolia’s Prime Minister Chimed Saikhanbileg. Later Modi addressed the members of the assembly. Here Modi said to give one billion American dollars with a low interest to Mongolia. The Indian Prime Minister also said to have signed a number of agreements on education, medicine, culture, security training, energy, animal health and milk products, internet security and other fields between the two countries. After the two days official visit to Mongolia, Prime Minister Modi will go on to South Korea.