India and China signed 9 MoUs/ agreements including the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) to maintain peace and tranquillity on the Line of Actual Control, on 23 October 2013 during the official visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to China. India and China signed nine agreements/ Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) including the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) on 23rd October 2013. The main objective of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement is to avoid border tensions and army face-offs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) by deciding that neither side will use military capability to attack the other side nor tail patrols along the border.
The nine agreements/Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were as follows-
The nine agreements/Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were as follows-
| S. No. | Name of Agreement / MoU | Gist of the MOU |
| 1. | Agreement on Border Defence Cooperation | An additional confidence building measure to ensure peace and tranquility on the border. |
| 2. | MoU on Nalanda University | Cooperation on Nalanda as part of East Asia Summit process. |
| 3. | MOU to Strengthen Cooperation on Trans-Border Rivers | Provides for expanded cooperation on trans-border rivers. |
| 4. | Cultural Exchange Programme 2013-15 | A listing of cultural exchanges till 2015. |
| 5. | MoU on Cooperation in Road Transport and Highways | Enabling agreement for cooperation in the roads sector. |
| 6. | MoU on Power Equipment Service Centres in India | Provides for establishment in India of Chinese power equipment service centres. |
| 7. | Agreement between Delhi-Beijing on Establishment of Sister City Relationship | Establishes sister city relations between Delhi and Beijing. |
| 8. | Agreement between Bengaluru – Chengdu on Establishment of Sister City Relationship | Establishes sister city relations between Bengaluru and Chengdu. |
| 9. | Agreement between Kolkata – Kunming on Establishment of Sister City Relationship | Establishes sister city relations between Kolkata and Kunming. |
The 14th India-Russia Annual Summit was held at Moscow on 21st October 2013. The summit was co-chaired by the Prime Minister of the India Dr. Manmohan Singh and the President of the Russia Vladimir V. Putin. During the meeting they discussed priority areas of bilateral cooperation and noted common positions on current international and regional issues. Both sides stressed their continued commitment to promote and strengthen in every possible way their special and privileged strategic partnership. During the 14th India-Russia Annual Summit, India and Russia have signed bilateral Documents on transfer of Sentenced Persons, in the Field of Energy Efficiency, in the field of Standardization and Conformity Assessment between Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Federal Agency on Technical Regulation and Metrology, and in the Fields of Science and in the area of Biotechnology.
List of Bilateral Documents signed during 14th India-Russia Annual Summit
| S.No | Name of the Document | Details of the agreement |
| 1. | on Transfer of Sentenced Persons | The Treaty shall facilitate the process of social rehabilitation of persons sentenced in the other country by providing them the opportunity to serve out their remaining sentences (under certain conditions) in their country of nationality. It is expected to boost consular cooperation between the two countries. |
| 2. | MoU in the Field of Energy Efficiency | The MoU shall enhance cooperation in the field of energy saving and energy efficiency, including through joint implementation of activities and projects by organisations/companies of both the countries. The forms of cooperation envisaged include exchange of best practices in smart grids, energy audits, energy efficient building designs, industrially efficient technologies, etc. |
| 3. | MoU in the field of Standardization and Conformity Assessment | The objective of this MoU is to facilitate closer technical cooperation in the field of standardization through exchange of information, practices and expertise. It is expected to have beneficial effects for trade and commerce where standards/conformity assessments form an integral basis for transactions. |
| 4. | Programme of Cooperation in the Fields of Science, Technology and Innovation | The Programme aims to deepen cooperation in the field of innovation and S&T through implementation of Joint Programs and projects/exchanges involving educational, R&D and industrial institutions. The joint projects may also facilitate transfer of technology. The broad areas of cooperation include ‘sunrise’ sectors such as IT, nano-technology, environmental sciences and alternate energy. This Programme shall also reinforce the existing robust exchanges between the scientific institutions of the two sides. |
| 5. | Programme of Cooperation in the Area of Biotechnology for the period 2014-2017 | The Programme aims to broaden cooperation in the field of biotechnology and encourage industrial R&D & related investment flows. This is intended to be achieved through implementation of Joint Programs and projects/exchanges, etc. |
India and Peru jointly celebrated the 50th year of establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries on 27th October 2013 in Lima. The occasion was celebrated during the three day visit of Indian Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari to Peru. He was on a three-day visit to Peru. His visit assumes significance as India seeks to further strengthen India-Peru ties. Indian music and classical dance performance at the mini India cultural festival was showcased for Peruvians. India established diplomatic relations with Peru in March 1963. India-Peru relations have traditionally been cordial and friendly. Since the 1990s, there has been an increasing economic and business content to the relationship. On the Peruvian side, an enhanced interest in the Asian region due to APEC membership, coupled with India’s image as a technologically advanced democratic developing country, as well as increased bilateral trade in recent years, has enhanced India’s importance. Peru is also a member of NAM and G-77. India and Peru cooperate closely on multilateral matters.
India, on 21st October, agreed to initiate an exercise for a free trade agreement with the customs union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, to enhance economic ties. “Both sides agreed to work towards the creation of a Joint Study Group for studying the possibility of signing a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between India and the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia,” a joint statement said. The joint statement was issued after the 14th India-Russia annual summit meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The Customs Union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus had formally come into existence few years ago. The three countries took their economic integration to a new level with the implementation of the common economic space, which provides for free movement of goods, services and people. Under the CECA, two sides aim to significantly reduce duties on the maximum number of tradable goods besides liberalising norms for service and investments. It also aims at facilitating movement of professionals. The statement also said that both sides welcomed the increasing business interactions Further, India and Russia underlined the significant potential for cooperation in sectors such as oil and gas, pharmaceutical, infrastructure, mining, automobiles, fertilizers, aviation, as well as in modernisation of industrial facilities located in the two countries. The bilateral trade between India and Russia stood at US US $6.52 billion in 2012-13.
The extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India came into effect on 23rd October, with the handing over of the instruments of ratification of the much-awaited pact. The two countries will now be able to exchange convicts or under trials as and when required. Bangladesh Home Secretary C.Q.K. Mostak Ahmed and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran signed the documents in Dhaka. The treaty will allow exchange of convicts sentenced for more than a year in prison but will not be applicable to political prisoners and asylum seekers. Both sides have the option to cancel the treaty in six-month notice. India can now take back ULFA leader Anup Chetia, who has been lodged in a Bangladesh’s prison for many years. Dhaka too can bring back fugitive crime lords such a Subrata Bain and Sazzad Hossain and put them on trial. Dhaka and New Delhi have decided to leave two important land ports open seven days a week from January to support greater trade. The land customs stations at Benapole-Petrapole and Akhaura-Agartala will remain operational seven days a week from 1st January. The ninth Joint Group of Customs (JGC) also identified 16 stations as ‘high bilateral trade importance’ and agreed to take measures for synchronisation of working hours and days. It agreed on extending the car pass system to those stations to allow movement of trucks of the importing country for unloading cargo. Both sides also agreed to consult relevant stakeholders to simplify the travel in ‘Maitree Express,’ the lone direct train service between Dhaka and Kolkata.
In an important initiative taken by India and Hungary, which have signed a bilateral agreement for promotion and development of traditional systems of medicine. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on behalf of India by Santosh Chowdhary, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare and Mr. Zolton Banog, Minister of National Resources of Hungary in the presence of Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India and Mr. Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on 17th October.
The Republic of Hungary has considerable interest in Indian traditional systems of medicine especially Ayurveda. The main objective of this MoU is to strengthen, promote and develop cooperation in the field of traditional systems of medicine between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefits. The MoU encourages and promotes cooperation to enhance the use of traditional systems of medicine, exchange of regulatory information on operational licensing to practice traditional medicine and on marketing authorization of medicines in both countries, promote the exchange of experts for training of practitioners, para-medics, scientists, teaching professionals and students in traditional systems of medicine. The signing of MoU will give boost to bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of traditional medicines which will open new vistas for exploring the potential of economic, commercial and tourism development in both the countries.
India, on 15th October, signed an agreement with Finland to produce indigenous ethanol to promote use of clean technologies and cut down the oil import bill. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Finnish clean technology firm Chempolis will set up a pilot project to produce ethanol, bio-chemicals and bio-coal from biomass residual matters. The agreement was inked by Finnish Minister for European Affairs Alexander Stubb and Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Panabaka Lakshmi in New Delhi. ONGC Chairman Sudhir Vasudeva told reporters at an event here. “Since 75 per cent of India’s ethanol requirements are met through imports, there is a large requirement which is not being met by indigenous production,” he added. A feasibility study will soon be carried out to assess the quantity of feedstock that is required.
India and Japan have signed MoU to undertake a joint feasibility study of High Speed Railway system on the Mumbai-Ahmadabad route. This is in pursuance of the Joint Statement between the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Shinzo Abe, dated May 29, 2013, which provided that the two sides will co-finance a joint feasibility study of this High Speed route. The MOU was signed by Katsuo MATSUMOTO, Director South Asia Division JICA from the Japanese side and Mr Girish Pillai, Adviser Infrastructure, Ministry of Railways from the Indian side on 7th October, 2013. The objective of the Joint study is to prepare a feasibility report of High Speed Railway system on the Mumbai-Ahmadabad route with speed of 300-350kmph. The cost of the study will be shared 50:50 between India and Japan. The study shall be completedwithin18 months from its commencement. The study will do traffic forecasting, alignment surveys and undertake comparative Study of High Speed Railway Technology and System.
To address the issue of volatility in food prices, India and Asean countries will share their expertise to boost their food security planning activities. The issue was discussed at the 11th India-ASEAN Summit held in Brunei on 10th October. Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, who chaired the Summit, in a statement said Asean leaders welcomed India’s ‘Look East Policy’ within the framework of their strategic partnership. Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh at the 8th East Asian Summit, at Brunei Darussalam on 10 October 2013. “We took note of the enhancement and strengthening of co-operation on food security through the widening of food production base and exchange of expertise between Asean and India to enhance resilience in food security planning to address price volatility of food commodities,” he said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed the summit and said that over two decades, India and Asean have established a comprehensive agenda of cooperation and a wide-ranging framework to pursue it. Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) is a grouping of ten nations — Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Leaders from the region also encouraged India to support the implementation of the roadmap for an Asean Community (2009-15). Besides, they asked India to contribute to Asean Community Post-2015 Vision, among others.
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, paid a state visit to Belgium from 2nd October 2013 to 5th October 2013, at the invitation of the King of the Belgium. It was the first visit by an Indian President to Belgium. The President inaugurated Europalia-India 2013-14 jointly with King Philippe. After his State Visit to Belgium, the President paid a state visit to Turkey from 5 October 2013 to 7 October 2013, at the invitation of the President of Turkey. It was the third visit by an Indian President to Turkey, after the visits by the President of India in 1993 and 1998.
India and Indonesia on 11th October, strengthened bilateral cooperation by inking six pacts in diverse areas, ranging from health and disaster management to combating illicit trafficking of drugs. The Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed during the first bilateral visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Indonesia, where he arrived on 10th October. A MoU has been inked to promote and develop co-operation in the field of health and medicine. This would cover areas of maternal and child health, nursing, traditional medicine, communicable and non-communicable diseases, health technology information, research and development, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and IT-based medical equipment. Another pact is to facilitate and enhance cooperation in combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors through exchange of information, collaboration, assistance in investigations including in money laundering. The two nations also signed a MoU to cooperate in the area of disaster management through exchange of information, training and capacity building. India and Indonesia signed pacts for co-operation in the area of training of public officials and capacity building, also strengthening collaboration by way of sharing and exchange of studies. The two countries inked a MoU for collaborative institutional relations through facilitation of dialogue involving eminent persons from various fields including culture, economy, trade, education, social sciences, communications and the media.
The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Anand Sharma visited Mozambique on a two-day visit from September 27-28, 2013. On September 27, Sharma met the Prime Minister of Mozambique, Mr. Alberto Vaquina and discussed the bilateral and historical relations between the two countries. Later, Sharma met Mr. Armando Inroga, Minister of Industry and Trade of Mozambique, where they discussed bilateral cooperation and agreed on the need for further diversifying trade and investments. Sharma said that owing to the impressive growth in trade between the two countries, the bilateral trade could reach US $ 3 billion by 2016 from the current level of US $ 1.28 billion. India has been assisting Mozambique in its developmental efforts and has provided Lines of Credit of US $ 640 million for various projects, apart from providing other assistance, grants and technical training, university scholarships, etc. Large quantities of coal and natural gas have recently been discovered in Mozambique. There are various Indian companies which have acquired stakes in these coal and gas fields, particularly the recent acquisition by ONGC Videsh and Oil India Limited in the Rovuma Basin in the North of Mozambique at cost of approximately US $ 5 billion for the natural gas consortium led by Anadarko of the United States and planned investment of US $ 4 billion for setting up of integrated fertilizer plans in Mozambique. Mr. Sharma also invited Mr. Inroga to visit India for participating in the Partnership Summit scheduled to be held in Bengaluru in January, 2014.
India Signs Credit Agreement with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for Jharkhand Tribal Empowerment Livelihood Project to Benefit Small Rural Producers, Women, Scheduled Caste Households and Youth in the Hill Districts of Jharkhand. An agreement for credit of US $ 51 million from IFAD for the Jharkhand Tribal Empowerment Livelihood Project (JTLEP) was signed in New Delhi on 4 October. The agreement was signed by Nilaya Mitash, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of India and Mr.Nigel Brett, Country Prorgamme Director, IFAD, India on behalf of IFAD. JTELP would continue till September 2021. Similarly a project agreement was signed by L. Khiangte, Principal Secretary, Jharkhand on behalf of the Government of Jharkhand with IFAD. The Objective of the project is to enable rural households to take-up sustainable livelihood opportunities. The project shall benefit small rural producers, women, scheduled caste households and youth in the hill districts of the State of the Jharkhand. The goal of the project is to reduce poverty in the hill districts of the State of Jharkhand. The new project has four main components: (i) Community Empowerment (ii) Integrated Natural Resource Management (iii) Livelihood Project (iv) Project Management.
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