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India, Argentina celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties

India and Argentina share cordial relations and encompass political, economic, scientific and technological cooperation, including Antarctic research and cultural cooperation…reports Asian Lite News

India and Argentina are commemorating 75 years of bilateral relations marked by friendship, cooperation, and shared values. The two countries had established diplomatic ties on February 3, 1949.

“We are honoured to commemorate 3 February 1949, when India and Argentina, the two vibrant democracies, embarked on a remarkable journey of friendship, cooperation, and shared values,” the Indian Embassy in Argentina posted on X. Reacting to the post, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal said, “Commemorating 75 Years of diplomatic relations between #IndiaArgentina.” Earlier on February 1, Argentina’s Secretary for International Economic Relations, Ambassador Marcelo Cima, received the Indian Ambassador to Argentina, Dinesh Bhatia, and the two reviewed key topics of bilateral cooperation and economic and trade relations between both countries.

They also agreed on the interest in restoring the historical peak recorded in 2022, when overall trade reached nearly USD 6.4 billion, with a surplus of USD 2.7 billion for Argentina. Last month, the Indian government entered into an agreement with Argentina for the exploration of lithium in the South American nation, as it seeks to delve into the supply of the rare element, which is crucial for the transformation towards an ‘environment-friendly’ future. Along with Chile and Bolivia, Argentina has more than half of the world’s lithium reserves. The most important use of lithium is in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles.

India and Argentina share cordial relations and encompass political, economic, scientific and technological cooperation, including Antarctic research and cultural cooperation. There are no outstanding disputes between India and Argentina. India opened a Trade Commission in Buenos Aires in 1943 and later converted it into an embassy in 1949. Argentina had established a consulate in Calcutta in the 1920s, which was transferred to Delhi as an embassy in 1950. Argentina opened a Consulate General office in Mumbai in April 2009. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Javier Milei Triumphs, Rattles Argentina’s Political Landscape

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‘We have begun discussions with UK about Falkland Islands’

Milei, the radical libertarian who recently won the Argentinian election, pledged during his campaign that he would gain sovereignty over the islands…reports Asian Lite News

The new Argentinian President Javier Milei said that he has begun discussions with the UK about the Falkland Islands, and that he expects future negotiations over the sovereignty of the British territory.

The comments, made on the fringes of the World Economic Forum meetings in Davos, followed Milei’s first bilateral meeting with the UK – a private session with Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron.

Milei, the radical libertarian who recently won the Argentinian election, pledged during his campaign that he would gain sovereignty over the islands.

Speaking shortly after his meeting with Lord Cameron, he said: “We talked about the Falklands and it is something for future diplomatic negotiations.” The comments will spark controversy, as Britain has said in the past that it has no plans for any diplomatic negotiations over the future of the islands.

A UK official said: “On the Falkland Islands, the foreign secretary and president Milei said they would agree to disagree, and do so politely. The UK position and ongoing support for the Falkland Islanders’ right to self-determination remains unchanged.”

Milei also gave a speech to the politicians and business people gathered in Davos in which he warned that “the Western world is in danger”.

He said: “Those who are meant to defend the values of the West have been co-opted by a vision of the world that inexorably leads to socialism, and therefore poverty.”

The issue of sovereignty over the Falklands has long been a source of dispute between Britain and Argentina, who fought a brief war over the islands in 1982. Buenos Aires has repeatedly sought to restore negotiations over the sovereignty of the Falklands, which Argentina calls Las Malvinas, but the UK has maintained talks are not on the table as long as the islands’ inhabitants want to remain British.

In a referendum on the islands’ sovereignty in 2013, 99.8% voted to remain a British territory – with only three voting against.

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Javier Milei Triumphs, Rattles Argentina’s Political Landscape

Milei’s win will be closely scrutinised around the world as a potential sign of a resurgence of far-right populism…reports Asian Lite News

Javier Milei has won Argentina’s presidential elections in provisional results, wrenching his country to the right with a bombastic anti-establishment campaign against the backdrop of one of the world’s highest inflation rates, the media reported.

His rival Sergio Massa conceded the run-off vote on Sunday evening in a brief speech even before official results were announced, CNN reported.

“Milei is the president elected for the next four years,” said Massa, adding that he had already called Milei to congratulate him.

Provisional results so far show Milei with over 55 per cent of votes (13,781,154) with more than 94 per cent of votes counted, according to data from the country’s National Electoral Chamber, which has not yet declared an official winner.

Milei’s victory marks an extraordinary rise for the former TV pundit, who entered the race as a political outsider on a promise to “break up with the status quo” — exemplified by Sergio Massa, CNN reported.

His campaign promise to dollarise Argentina, if enacted, is expected to thrust the country into new territory: no country of Argentina’s size has previously turned over the reins of its own monetary policy to Washington decisionmakers.

Milei has also said he would slash government spending by closing Argentina’s ministries of culture, education, and diversity, and by eliminating public subsidies. He is a social conservative with ties to the American right; he opposes abortion rights and has called climate change a “lie of socialism”.

Milei’s win will be closely scrutinised around the world as a potential sign of a resurgence of far-right populism. Milei has ties to the American right, and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro had endorsed Milei’s candidacy.

Public opinion polls had shown the two candidates neck-and-neck in recent weeks, CNN reported.

Massa is a lifelong politician whose candidacy in contrast with Milei’s had come to represent Argentina’s political establishment. Inflation has reached painful heights during his tenture — 142 per cent year-on-year, but Massa sought to argue that the government’s current actions were already paying dividends, with inflation for the month of October 35 per cent lower than in September — an argument that appears to have failed to convince voters exhausted by a cost-of-living crisis.

ALSO READ-India, Argentina plan steps on developing military hardware

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India, Argentina plan steps on developing military hardware

During Taiana’s visit, India and Argentina agreed to the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a training agreement to further consolidate defence partnership…reports Asian Lite News

India and Argentina continue to deepen defence ties and enhance the ongoing strategic partnership that unites both countries following the India visit of Argentine Defence Minister Jorge Enrique Taiana, last month.

Earlier this week, Francisco Cafiero, Secretary International Affairs of Argentina’s Ministry of Defence, met Indian Ambassador to Argentina Dinesh Bhatia in Buenos Aires to “plan the work for the coming months” as far as bilateral cooperation agenda in the defence area is concerned.

Cafiero had accompanied Taiana on the July 17-20 India visit during which both countries signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) on productive cooperation and acquisition of Light and Medium Utility Helicopters for the Argentine armed forces.

The Indian Embassy in the Argentine capital said that Cafiero and Bhatia discussed “harnessing true potential” of strategic partnership for collaboration and partnerships in defence hardware, technologies and high-tech equipment.

During Taiana’s visit, India and Argentina agreed to the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a training agreement to further consolidate defence partnership between the two countries.

“We are here to perfect and deepen the agreements we have and sign some others. One of them is a Memorandum of Understanding that is richer in content and concrete possibilities than the one currently in force,” said Taiana after meeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi.

He added: “I think we have a concrete opportunity in the field of Defence, where we can give a quality leap in cooperation between the two countries”.

As reported by IndiaNarrative.com, immediately after landing in India, Taiana toured the BrahMos Aerospace facility in New Delhi and met with the Indo-Russian aerospace and defence corporation’s CEO and Managing Director Atul Dinkar Rane.

India’s state-of-the-art modern fourth-generation Tejas fighter jet has also for long been in contention for Buenos Aires’ order of 12 fighter jets.

It is believed that New Delhi is offering a modified variant of the LCA Tejas Mk1A to Argentina with the replacement of parts manufactured in the United Kingdom, thus keeping it way ahead in the race – that also includes major competitors including Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter jets developed jointly with China, South Korea’s FA-50, Russia’s MiG-35 and the US F-16s.

Later, as the Argentine defence delegation travelled to Bengaluru, Taiana signed a LoI with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and Managing Director C B Ananthakrishnan on productive cooperation and acquisition of Light and Medium Utility Helicopters for the Argentine armed forces.

Argentina, which has been looking at renewal of its helicopter fleet, expressed its interest in incorporating the Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) model through a productive cooperation project.

HAL already has agreements in place with the Argentine Air Force for the maintenance of the engines of its Lama helicopters and with the Argentine Aircraft Factory (FAdeA) for joint development in the aerospace sector.

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Argentine envoy backs India’s G20 agenda

He travelled to Bengaluru and visited the facilities of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and separately interacted with the defence start-ups in an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)…reports Asian Lite News

Backing India’s G20 agenda, Argentine Ambassador to India, Hugo Javier Gobbi said that India acting as a voice of the Global South is impressive and it did something extraordinary with its inclusion in the beginning.

“India has placed a very strong agenda that considers the needs of the Global South, where most of the growth is coming from, for the world economy. And so I think we fully back India’s agenda, and India’s leadership in the G20”, said the envoy.

He added, “Under India’s leadership, it did something extraordinary at the beginning of the G20 process. It called all of the global south countries to be involved in a video conference with a very different perspective. India didn’t go and tell them what did you do? India went and asked what we can do for you. And that was the reply and satisfaction of the global south. So, India is playing a very significant role in getting an agenda forward in very difficult circumstances and moving forward many agreements that were considered impossible to reach before the G20 presidency started”.

He added that the defence relationship between New Delhi and Buenos Aires is expanding and developing at a very fast pace and the Argentine authorities are very much impressed with India’s technology,  The envoy affirmed Argentinian interest in Indian airplanes and weapon systems.

“We have many delegations coming. We opened our office of Military Attache and the way things have gone forward is really extraordinary. We have seen the Brahmos. It’s incredible technology and India has shown its capacity to develop systems and very sophisticated weapons systems. Our authorities have been very impressed,” said the Argentine envoy.

“We had the Minister of Defence here. We have the Chief of Staff. We have the Air Force chief coming to India twice, and we also have more than 60 military delegations coming. Many delegations from India go to Argentina. So, I think that area is expanding and developing very fast,” he added. 

Earlier in July, during his New Delhi visit, Argentinian Defence Minister, Jorge Enrique Taiana held talks with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh and discussed measures to bolster the bilateral defence relationship.

He travelled to Bengaluru and visited the facilities of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and separately interacted with the defence start-ups in an event organised by Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).

As both countries are negotiating deals related to Tejas Light Combat Aircraft and BrahMos missiles, the envoy said that “These are very complex negotiations that have many elements taken into consideration and that we are looking very closely to the helicopter”.

“We signed an agreement on maintenance of helicopters already with HAL. We are looking at India’s aeroplanes, which have also shown India’s capacity to develop the technology. And there are many possibilities of cooperation both ways, in industrial cooperation and in the defence area”, the envoy added.

Speaking further about the bilateral relations between the two countries, he said that the relationship has evolved very positively in an “extraordinary way” and there is a lot of political will and commitment to develop these relationships much further.

“In the last few years, our trade has expanded in many fields enormously. In the last two years, the relationship has gotten broader in many areas that were not considered before. Like defence developed very quickly. Also science and technology cooperation and nuclear field space area. So, we can only say that it has been a great success and both sides are very happy about how things are developing”, said the envoy.

Speaking on the Russia-Ukraine war, Gobbi said that the issue is not on the agenda specifically, but added that India is being very ‘intelligent’ on the issue.

“Well, the war in Ukraine is not on the agenda specifically because of the space for economic cooperation and development, cooperation and environment. It’s actually a space to look for solutions to many of the global problems that are not fully related to geopolitics. But there are many countries, especially the G-7, who say that the war in Ukraine has much significance and has an impact on economic and other issues. So it has to be considered,” the Argentine envoy said.

He added, “The discussion is very difficult because there will be no agreement or very difficult to come to an agreement on this issue. And actually what we see is India is being very intelligent.”

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Economic exchange discussed in Al Hashimy’s Argentina visit

The UAE delegation was welcomed by Santiago Cafiero, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship of Argentina…reports Asian Lite News

Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, led a senior UAE delegation to the Argentine Republic on 12 June 2023 aimed at enhancing ties between the two nations across various fields.

The UAE delegation was welcomed by Santiago Cafiero, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship of Argentina. During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to strengthen economic exchange and foster cooperation in key sectors such as food security, renewable energy, and technology.

Highlighting the importance of economic ties, the UAE-Argentina Business Forum was held, providing a platform for UAE companies, such as Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), to explore business opportunities and forge new partnerships with companies in Argentina. Al Hashemy delivered opening remarks in which she emphasized the potential for mutual growth and investment between the two countries.

The delegation also discussed with Fabiola Yañez, the First Lady of Argentina, the UAE’s humanitarian efforts in Latin America. They also discussed the impact of climate change on the most vulnerable of the society and ways in which both the UAE and Argentina could partner together to address global challenges, in specific, those pertaining to the empowerment of young people.

Al Hashemy attended a meeting hosted by Anahi Costa, President of the UAE-Argentine Parliamentary Friendship Committee. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the bilateral

Relationship, including on the parliamentary level.

Furthermore, Al Hashemy participated in a panel discussion at the National Foreign Service Institute of Argentina, addressing diplomats and scholars, to discuss the UAE’s foreign policy based on building bridges of dialogue and cooperation.

Al Hashemy also met HE Cecilia Nicolini, State Secretary of Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Innovation, to highlight the UAE’s commitment to sustainability and renewable energy.

The minister further discussed the UAE Presidency of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) that will be hosted at Expo City Dubai in November. Recognizing the need for collective action on climate change, both officials explored ways to strengthen bilateral Cooperation in the field of sustainability both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Al Hashemyalso met with Cristina de Kirchner, the Vice President of Argentina and the President of the Senate who recalled with great fondness her state visit to the UAE in 2013.

During the visit, the UAE and Argentina signed three Memorandums of Understanding: a MoU on technical cooperation, an MoU in the field of food security, and a framework agreement for cooperation in the field of banknotes.

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India and Argentina explore cooperation in Tejas Combat Aircraft

Both sides agreed to promote the exchange of visits between the Armed Forces, defence training and collaboration for joint production of defence-related equipment…reports Asian Lite News

Indian Ambassador to Argentina, Dinesh Bhatia, Chief of Argentine Air Force, Brigadier General Xavier Isaac on Tuesday discussed cooperation in Tejas Combat Aircrafts and a variety of helicopter options manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

“Amb @dineshbhatia joined the @HALHQBLR delegation to meet Brig Gen Xavier Isaac, Chief of Argentine Air Force and @FuerzaAerea_Arg technical team, to discuss cooperation in #Tejas Combat Aircrafts and a variety of helicopter options manufactured by HAL @makeinindia,” the Indian Embassy in Argentina tweeted on Tuesday. The South American nation in 2022 had expressed interest in the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft Tejas for Argentine Air Force.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar acknowledged Argentine interest in the Tejas fighter aircraft and highlighted the importance of the proposal in enhancing the strategic quotient of bilateral relationships.

Both sides agreed to promote the exchange of visits between the Armed Forces, defence training and collaboration for joint production of defence-related equipment.

The HAL Tejas is an Indian, single-engine, delta wing, light multirole fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency in collaboration with the Aircraft Research and Design Centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar recently extended wishes to the government and people of Argentina and Jordan on their National Day.A

Taking to Twitter, he extended his greetings to his Argentinian counterpart Santiago Cafiero and said, “Warm greetings to FM @SantiagoCafiero and the Government and people of Argentina on their National Day.”

‘Our cooperation continues to benefit our people and enhance our Strategic Partnership,” Jaishankar added.

Notably, India shares cordial and friendly relations with Argentina. Earlier in 2022, EAM Jaishankar visited Argentina and paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Republica de la India Street. (ANI)

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UK says Falklands are British as Argentina seeks new talks

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly( https://twitter.com/JamesCleverly)

Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the islands, which are about 300 miles (480 kilometers) from South America and home to some 3,500 people…reports Asian Lite News

Britain has reasserted its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands after Argentina pulled out of a cooperation agreement and demanded new talks over the South Atlantic territory that sparked a 1982 war between the two countries.

The pronouncement came after Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero said on Twitter that he informed British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly about his country’s decision when the pair met on the margins of the Group of 20 summit in India last week.

“The Falkland Islands are British,” Cleverly tweeted late Friday. “Islanders have the right to decide their own future — they have chosen to remain a self-governing U.K. Overseas Territory.”

Earlier, Cafiero said he told Cleverly that Argentina had decided to pull out of a 2016 agreement in which the the two countries pledged to work together on a variety of issues. While that agreement sought to improve cooperation in the South Atlantic, both sides continued to assert their claims to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, known as Islas Malvinas in Argentina.

Cafiero also said he proposed new talks in line with a 1965 U.N. General Assembly resolution that encouraged Britain and Argentina to find a peaceful solution to the dispute over the islands.

Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the islands, which are about 300 miles (480 kilometers) from South America and home to some 3,500 people.

Argentina argues that the islands were illegally taken from it in 1833. Britain, which says its territorial claim dates to 1765, sent a warship to the islands in 1833 to expel Argentine forces who had sought to establish sovereignty over the territory.

Argentina invaded the islands in 1982, triggering a two-month war that claimed the lives of 255 British service members, three islanders and 649 Argentine personnel. The Argentine forces were ultimately expelled and Britain reasserted its control.

Residents in 2013 voted overwhelmingly in favor of remaining an overseas territory of the United Kingdom.

David Rutley, Britain’s minister for the Americas, expressed disappointment in Argentina’s decision.

“Argentina has chosen to step away from an agreement that has brought comfort to the families of those who died in the 1982 conflict,” Rutley, who recently visited Buenos Aires, said on Twitter. “Argentina, the U.K. and the Falklands all benefited from this agreement.’’

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Argentina reopens embassy in Dhaka

Argentina,flag.(photo:pixabay.com)

The Argentine Embassy in Dhaka was previously closed down in 1978…reports Asian Lite News

Argentina has reopened its embassy in Bangladesh capital Dhaka.

Argentina’s Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero arrived in Dhaka on a three-day visit on Monday morning to inaugurate the embassy of the South American country, which is the first one by an Argentine foreign minister to Bangladesh, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Argentine Embassy in Dhaka was previously closed down in 1978.

Last December, Argentina announced a plan to reopen its embassy in Dhaka in 2023 to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Bangladesh’s exports

Bangladesh is ready to topple China as the top clothing exporter to the EU amid Beijing’s decreasing share in the ready-made garment (RMG) market, reported Nikkei Asia.

Notably, in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine and other global geopolitical tensions, the supply chains are shifting and driving up orders to the densely populated South Asian nation. “A lot of work orders were shifted to Bangladesh from China because of the recent trade war between China and the US,” Shahidullah Azim, vice president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told Nikkei Asia.

Mounting tensions between Washington and Beijing have driven many brands to seek out non-Chinese suppliers in sectors ranging from clothing and textiles to consumer electronics and smartphones.

Bangladesh’s exports of clothing to the EU surged nearly 42 per cent in the first nine months of 2022 from the same period the year before to USD 19.4 billion, while Chinese shipments grew about 22 per cent to USD 25.5 billion, according to the latest data from the EU’s statistical office, Eurostat.

Major EU buyers of clothes made in Bangladesh include fashion chains H&M, Primark, Zara, G-Star Raw and Marks & Spencer, reported Nikkei Asia.

With a population of nearly 170 million people, Bangladesh has a sizable potential workforce and is one of around 45 developing countries that currently enjoy duty-free and quota-free access to all EU markets, except arms and ammunition. In contrast, Chinese exporters must pay duty.

“Buyers prefer Bangladesh due to its zero-tariff export facilities to EU markets,” said Ashikur Rahman Tuhin, managing director of TAD Group, which manufactures a range of products including clothing. All the garments it makes go to Europe.

Producers in Bangladesh have also been moving away from so-called fast fashion — disposable attire churned out to suit rapidly shifting consumer tastes — to higher quality and more profitable clothing.

“Bangladesh is shifting its production base to high-end, value-added garment items from basic products, which are also helping the country to increase its share in the EU market (where such items are increasingly in demand),” said Azim from the BGMEA.

Meanwhile, Paul Marchant, chief executive of Britain’s Primark, said on a visit last month to Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, that his company plans to ramp up its sourcing from the country.

Producers and others in the country are confident it will be the top exporter to Europe soon, reported Nikkei Asia.

“In the EU market, Bangladesh is close to China, so within four to five years we can overtake it,” said Ahsan H Mansur, executive director of the Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh.

“China’s RMG market share is decreasing worldwide. I think China has no strategic interest to protect this share as the country is now focusing on developing and producing higher-valued goods like electric cars. So they are not concentrating on the apparel industry as before.”

Boosting shipments to Europe will bolster a crucial part of Bangladesh’s economy, with RMG manufacturers already contributing around a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product and more than 80 per cent of its export earnings, reported Nikkei Asia. (IANS/ANI)

ALSO READ-Argentina seeks India’s cooperation on currency swap issues

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Argentina seeks India’s cooperation on currency swap issues

The second Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting under India’s G20 Presidency is underway in Bengaluru. The meeting began on Wednesday…reports Asian Lite News

Argentina Minister of Economy Sergio Tomas Massa on Thursday sought India’s cooperation on the issues of a currency swap and developing software for digital payments with guidance from the National Payments Corporation of India. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has affirmed India’s cooperation.

Union FM Sitharaman and the Argentinian Minister met ahead of the first G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting in Bengaluru, on Thursday. The Ministers exchanged views on priorities under G20 Indian Presidency with Argentinian support to India during its G20 Presidency. During the meeting, Sitharaman also stated that India would take forth the momentum created by Argentina during its Presidency on infrastructure priorities, including spending on cities of tomorrow.

Both ministers looked forward to close cooperation on India’s G20 priorities including strengthening multilateral development banks (MDBs) and climate finance.

The second Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting under India’s G20 Presidency is underway in Bengaluru. The meeting began on Wednesday.

The first G20 FMCBG meeting will be spread over three sessions, covering issues such as strengthening multilateral development banks to address shared global challenges of the 21st century, financing for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable ‘cities of tomorrow’, leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for advancing financial inclusion and productivity gains, an official release said earlier.

Before this, the Union Finance Minister on Thursday also met Japanese counterpart Shunichi Suzuki, ahead of the first G20 Finance Minister and Central Bank Governors meeting.

According to a tweet posted by the official handle of the finance ministry, the ministers exchanged views on priorities under the G20 Finance Track 2023.

In one of the tweets, the handle also posted that “Both ministers looked forward to close cooperation between Japan as G7 Presidency and India as G20 Presidency on strengthening of multilateral development banks (MDBs), debt-related issues, financing cities of tomorrow and coordinated policy for crypto assets.”

The Japanese Minister also assured his whole-hearted support to India during the G20 India’s Presidency.

Crypto, cross-border payments on agenda at G20 meet

Road to policy for crypto assets, a symposium of digital public infrastructure, and enhancement of cross-border payment arrangements are among the agenda to be discussed today at the second Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting under India’s G20 Presidency which is underway in Bengaluru.

The meeting began on Wednesday. Union Minister Anurag Thakur inaugurated and addressed the inaugural session of the meeting. The First G20 Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting, under the Indian Presidency, too was held in Bengaluru during December 13-14, 2022.

The deputies’ meet will be followed by the first G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting, scheduled to be held during February 24-25 in the same city. The meeting will be jointly chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das.

The meeting will be spread over three sessions, covering issues such as strengthening multilateral development banks to address shared global challenges of the 21st century, financing for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable ‘cities of tomorrow’, leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for advancing financial inclusion and productivity gains, an official release said earlier.

The sessions will also cover issues related to the global economy, global health, and international taxation, and discussions in the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting are intended to provide a clear mandate for the various workstreams of the G20 Finance Track in 2023. (ANI)

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