Manmohan-Obama Meeting: Efforts To Accelerate Bilateral Ties

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met US President Barack Obama in Bali (Indonesia). The Indian prime minister said that India had gone "some way" to allay the concerns of US firms by notifying rules for nuclear business and any specific grievance would be addressed within the "four corners" of Indian laws.
The issue came up during the over one-hour meeting between Singh and Obama here against the backdrop of apprehensions among US firms that Indian liability laws were not supplier friendly.
"I explained to him (Obama) that we have a law in place. Rules have been formulated. These rules will lie before our Parliament for 30 days. Therefore, we have gone some way to respond to the concerns of US companies and within the four corners of the law of the land we are willing to address any specific grievances," Singh told reporters after his meeting with Obama.
The rules, which were notified on Wednesday, make it clear among other things that there would be no unlimited or unending liability on part of the suppliers.
Obama, a day after India signaled it was willing to meet US and other potential nuclear supplier groups halfway by limiting the suppliers’ liability to a shorter period.
US-India-Australia Trilateral Relationship

Obama, in his opening remarks, with a visibly pleased Singh standing by his side, pointedly said the US would focus on how Washington and Delhi could work together “not only on bilateral issues but also in multilateral fora like the East Asia Summit, which we believe can be the premier arena for us to work together on a wide range of issues such as maritime security or non-proliferation, as well as expand the kind of cooperation on disaster relief and humanitarian aid that’s so important.”His remarks mark the culmination of a series of carefully calibrated statements that have pegged India and Australia as part of an emerging “robust, principled US-India-Australia trilateral relationship” in the Asia-Pacific, where the US has shown renewed interest.The prime minister publicly indicated the liability bill was on the agenda, and said as much to the media after the talks with Obama. “I explained to him we have a law in place and rules have been formulated... These will lie in Parliament for 30 days. We have gone some way to respond to concerns of American companies and within the four corners of the law of the land, we are willing to address any specific grievances.”
The prime minister said he had also told Obama that India was ready to ratify the Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC), another issue that the US wants to be done as part of implementation of the civil nuclear deal. "That's where the matter stands," he said.
Sources said the issue came up during the course of review of implementation of decisions taken by the two sides. They claimed that Obama did not respond and merely "noted" the prime minister's statement.
Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act
Under the Rules of Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act, foreign suppliers of nuclear material to Indian nuclear power plants would not be held liable for accidents caused by defective or faulty equipment supplied by them if the accident takes place after a guarantee period specified by them.
During the meeting, the first since Obama visited India last November, the two leaders also talked about strengthening the bonds of strategic ties put in place during the historic visit.
The two leaders also discussed issues related to the region as well as Singh's recent meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in Maldives and steps being taken to improve bilateral ties.
In the context of regional situation, the Prime Minister and Obama discussed Afghanistan. He apprised the US President about President Hamid Karzai's visit to India and the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between the two countries.
Issues related to Iran's nuclear program were also discussed in the backdrop of damning report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general, with the Prime Minister saying the issue should be dealt with diplomatically.

Vietnam-China Strategic Cooperation Partnership

At the invitation of the Government of the People Republic of China and of the Shanghai and Jiangsu provinces, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung accompanied by his wife, today visits the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and on this occasion will visit Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces.

The visit of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his wife to the Opening ceremony of the 2010 Shanghai Expo and to the provinces of Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu will create a new momentum to deepen the Vietnam-China total partnership cooperation in every aspects in the time to come, especially during the "Vietnamese-China Friendship Year" and the year when Vietnam hold the ASEAN 2010 Chairmanship.

New Opportunities
The people rejoice at the great achievements made by China on its road of reform and open door policy during the last 30 years. The average annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is over 9 percent and in 2009, has reached RMB 31,404.5 billion (approximately US$ 5,000 billion); the trade turn-over in 2009 has attained over $2,200 billion and foreign reserves now have reached $2.4 billion, the highest in the world. The 2010 Shanghai Expo, with the theme "For a greener city and a better life" is a big event in Asia attracting the attention of billions of people on the globe. The Chinese government has given special attention to this big scale non commercial exposition. General Secretary and Chairman Hu Jintao together with foreign leaders, heads of government and dignitaries will attend the opening ceremony. The expo will be an opportunity for countries and peoples in the world to exchange and learn from each other on culture, science and technology to increase mutual understanding and trust for a better life. The exposition attracts the participation of about 200 countries around the world. China has reserved for Vietnam an area of 1,000 m² to construct a Pavilion to introduce and promote image of the country and people of Vietnam.

The Hua dong region of China which includes Shanghai city, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces with a population of 170 million inhabitants is one of the biggest economic centers and regarded as both the economic locomotive and most thriving financial center of China. These are the localities that have had good relations with Vietnam like the Jiangsu province has established direct ties with Dong Nai province of Vietnam. The visit to the 2010 Shanghai Expo and to Shanghai city, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung this time once again reasserts that the Party, State, government and the people of Vietnam highly value the Vietnam-China total strategic cooperation partnership following the motto of "friendly neighbors, comprehensive cooperation, long term stability and looking towards the future" and the spirit of "good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners" and continue to elevate this relationship to a new quality development level for the interests of the people of the two countries and at the same time contribute to the enhancement of the friendly and cooperative ties between Vietnam and these localities of China.

Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
The people pleased to see that the relationship between Vietnam and China has achieved important developments in recent times, particularly on the occasion of the China's visit of Party Secretary general Nong Duc Manh (May 2008), the two sides have unanimously agreed to develop the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries according to the 16 golden words and the four "good" spirit and to establish a hot line between the leaders of the two countries with a view to help the development of sustainable and long term bilateral relationship.

The two sides have successfully organized a series of important and practical activities to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam, the first event to kick off the "China-Vietnam Friendship Year." The two countries maintain the good tradition and regularly exchange visiting delegations of high ranking leaders of the two parties and governments. During these visits, the leaders have stressed that the Vietnam-China friendship is a valuable asset of the two countries and peoples that should be carefully preserved and upheld; they pledged to spare no effort to consolidate and deepen this relationship to build trust and to support each other in the work of renewal, open door reform and building socialism in each country.

Enhancing Trade Ties
The economic and commercial relations between the two countries never cease to expand. China has become the top trading partner of Vietnam. In 2009, though affected by the global financial crisis and economic recession, the two-way trade turn-over still reached US$ 21.35 billion with an increase of 5.76 percent. The leaders of the two countries have spent time to mull over measures to implement the sustainable growth target of trade turn-over while improving the trade balance. The two sides have signed the two treaties on animal and plant quarantine cooperation and are working towards the completion of the "Five-year plan for Vietnam-China trade development". The two countries will further boost cooperation for big projects, especially the ones within the framework of the "two corridors, one economic belt" agreement. Exchanges between the two countries various ministries, departments and localities have expanded continuously. Vietnam and China have cooperated effectively on multilateral forums such as the UN, WTO, APEC, ASEM, East Asia Summit, ASEAN+3 and so forth.

The settlement of issues relevant to the borders between the two countries is progressing positively. The two sides have signed the Treaty on land borders demarcation (1999); the Treaty on the Gulf of Tonkin demarcation (2000); the Treaty on fishery cooperation in the Gulf of Tonkin (2000); the Protocol on fishery cooperation in the Gulf of Tonkin (2004). The two countries have completed the demarcation work on land borders and have organized a ceremony to mark this event at the Friendship border gate on 23 February 2009. The two sides pledged to carry on the smooth implementation of these two important treaties.

Increasing Friendly Relations
The visit of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to the 2010 Shanghai Expo and to Shanghai city, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces is aimed at consolidating the trustful relationship among leaders of the two countries; increasing friendly relations and expanding cooperation between Vietnam and China in general and with the mentioned localities in particular; concretizing the total strategic partnership cooperation between the two Parties and States through important programs, plans and measures with a view to make the areas of cooperation more practical and effective, in particular in economic, trade, investment and tourism cooperation.

I wish the trip of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung great success in achieving the promotion of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership cooperation to a higher level for the happiness and prosperity of the two peoples and thus, contributing to maintaining of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and in the world.

16th ASEAN and Mekong River Commission Summits

The 16th Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the first Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summits, held from 5 to 9 April, concluded in Hanoi (Vietnam). At this summit, ASEAN leaders discussed many topics relating to the development of the Mekong such as increasing infrastructure connectivity to boost sustainable development in the Mekong region and incorporating environment protection in lower Mekong region with efforts to address climate change.

At the summit, ASEAN members also welcomed the results of the first Mekong River Commission (MRC) summit that took place on 4-5 April. ASEAN expressed support for commitments from countries in the MRC to increase the cooperation in the sustainable usage, exploitation, and management of the Mekong river's resources. It could be said that the MRC summit was a success. The representatives from China and Myanmar at this summit also expressed their high level of agreement with the declaration of the summit.

Joint Response to Climate Change
ASEAN leaders have approved a statement on sustained recovery and development and a statement on joint response to climate change. ASEAN agrees to urgently implement the ASEAN Charter in a practical way which includes concentrated effort to perfect the organizational mechanisms, improve operational methods to improve the cooperation's quality and effectiveness, and complete all the supporting documents to provide a legal framework for the operation of ASEAN.

The maintenance of peace, stability and security, and safety in the East Sea is the common interest and also a major concern of ASEAN members and countries in the region.

Agreements and Cooperation Mechanisms
The related countries have built many agreements and cooperation mechanisms to ensure peace, stability and cooperation in the region like the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

DOC is an important document signed between ASEAN and China. All the involved parties have affirmed their adherence in the implementation of the DOC and have strived to implement this agreement. The officials from ASEAN and China have agreed to meet soon to discuss measures to implement the DOC.

ASEAN leaders strongly believe that with the goodwill from all side and for the common benefits of the region all the related parties will continue to observe the DOC and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, thus contribute in a practical way to the maintenance of peace, stability, security and safety in the East Sea. This is for the common interest of countries in ASEAN and the region.

At this summit, ASEAN members affirmed their continued support for Myanmar's positive integration into the region and the world and willingness to help Myanmar when Myanmar makes a request in the spirit of ASEAN Charter.

ASEAN Regional Structure
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said that the summit agrees to enhance the central role of ASEAN in an emerging regional structure.

At the same time, ASEAN agrees to increase ASEAN's connectivity, strengthen external relations with partners, and enhance the activities in existing regional forums in which ASEAN plays a key role such as ASEAN+3, East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

The East Asia Summit is an open and inclusive forum. ASEAN therefore will investigate practical ways for Russia and the United States to participate in this regional architecture, including the possibility of their involvement with the EAS through appropriate modalities.

The leaders of ASEAN also agree to organize an open ASEAN defense ministers' meeting in the format of ASEAN+8 that will help to increase the cooperative relations in defense and security between ASEAN and partners, and task ASEAN defense ministers to discuss its early implementation.