Putin is scheduled to travel to Hanoi in a display of Communist-governed Vietnam’s ties to Russia that is likely to rankle the United States…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in North Korea on Wednesday morning (local time) on his first official visit to the East Asian nation in 24 years and is expected to meet with his counterpart Kim Jong Un, CNN reported.
This is a rare overseas trip for Putin since he launched the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and a key moment for Kim, who has not hosted another world leader in his politically isolated country since the COVID-19 pandemic.
This visit comes after North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un extended an invitation to Putin in September 2023. Putin last visited Pyongyang in July 2000 and this trip is a sign of the two countries’ deepening alignment and Moscow’s need to source weapons from Pyongyang to sustain its war on Ukraine, reported CNN.
Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov also commented on his trip to North Korea during a press conference Monday and stated that his trip will have an eventful agenda. Both leaders plan to sign a new strategic partnership.
Ushakov insisted the agreement is not provocative or aimed against other countries, but is meant to ensure greater stability in northeast Asia. He said the new agreement will replace documents signed between Moscow and Pyongyang in 1961, 2000 and 2001.
The streets of Pyongyang were decorated with Russian flags and posters of Vladimir Putin ahead of his early Wednesday morning arrival, his first visit to North Korea since 2000.
Putin’s visit will be closely watched across the world and is expected to cement further the burgeoning partnership between the two powers that is founded on their shared animosity toward the West and driven by Moscow’s need for munitions for its war in Ukraine.
Following his visit to North Korea, Putin is scheduled to travel to Hanoi in a display of Communist-governed Vietnam’s ties to Russia that is likely to rankle the United States.
Regarding Putin’s visit US national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday the Biden administration wasn’t “concerned about the trip” itself, but added, “What we are concerned about is the deepening relationship between these two countries.”
The US, South Korea and other countries have accused North Korea of providing substantial military aid to Russia’s war effort in recent months, while observers have raised concerns that Moscow may be violating international sanctions to aid Pyongyang’s development of its nascent military satellite program. Both countries have denied arms transfer.
Putin’s trip reciprocates one Kim made last September, when the North Korean leader travelled in his armoured train to Russia’s far eastern region, for a visit that included stops at a factory that produces fighter jets and a rocket-launch facility. (ANI)
During a joint press conference, Yoon and Kishida emphasised the importance of denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula….report Asian Lite News
Leaders of South Korea, Japan, and China reaffirmed their commitment to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula during their summit in Seoul on Monday, hours after North Korea announced a satellite launch plan.
President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang reached the agreement after North Korea notified Japan of its plan to launch a space rocket carrying a military spy satellite sometime before June 4, Yonhap news agency reported.
“We reaffirmed that maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia serves our common interest and is our common responsibility,” a joint declaration of the trilateral summit said.
“We reiterated positions on regional peace and stability, denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, and the abduction issue, respectively. We agree to continue to make positive efforts for the political settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue,” it added.
During a joint press conference, Yoon and Kishida emphasised the importance of denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula.
However, Li did not address denuclearisation directly, instead urging relevant parties to exercise restraint to prevent further escalation.
This contrasts with the 2019 trilateral summit, where China also expressed support for efforts toward denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.
During the session, Yoon and Kishida denounced North Korea’s satellite launch plan as a violation of the UN Security Council resolutions that ban its use of ballistic missile technology.
Pyongyang said it will send three more satellites into space this year, following its first launch in November.
“The international community must respond firmly,” Yoon said during a joint press briefing at the former President Cheong Wa Dae.
Kishida echoed his concerns, urging Pyongyang to cease its activities.
“If it proceeds, it will be a violation of UN Security Council resolutions. We strongly urge North Korea to cease this activity,” Kishida said.
China’s Li called on all related countries to exercise restraint without a direct mention of North Korea.
“China has consistently worked to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and is pushing for a political resolution to the peninsula issue. Relevant parties should exercise restraint and prevent the situation from worsening and becoming more complicated,” Li said during the briefing.
Li, China’s No. 2 official, also called for joint efforts to foster cooperation through “mutual respect and trust”.
“Korea, Japan, and China should properly handle sensitive issues and conflicts, consider each other’s core interests and significant concerns, and practice genuine multilateralism to jointly safeguard stability in the Northeast Asian region,” Li said.
The trilateral session discussed ways to promote cooperation in six specific areas — economy and trade, sustainable development, health issues, science and technology, disaster and safety management, and people-to-people exchanges.
The leaders also agreed to institutionalise the trilateral cooperation by holding the trilateral summit and ministerial meetings regularly.
Monday’s session was the first three-way meeting since December 2019 after it was suspended for a prolonged period due to Covid-19 and historical disputes among the Asian neighbours.
After the meeting, they attended a trilateral business summit at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, engaging with business leaders of the three nations.
During the summit, the leaders pledged to work together to promote cooperation in trade and investment, as well as supply chain resilience and export controls.
“We will continue to work to ensure a global level playing field to foster a free, open, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, inclusive, and predictable trade and investment environment,” the joint declaration said.
They agreed to resume talks on a three-way free trade agreement (FTA), which was suspended in November 2019 following 16 rounds of official negotiations after they began in 2012.
The leaders committed to ensure the “transparent, smooth and effective” implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
It is an FTA among 15 Asia-Pacific countries, involving the three nations.
China is the largest trading partner of South Korea and Japan, and together, they make up about 25 per cent of the global gross domestic product and 20 per cent of global trade.
Despite differing alignments and stances on various issues, the three nations agreed to coordinate on regional and international matters from a broader perspective.
“As important countries responsible for peace, stability, and prosperity in Asia, we renew our determination to engage in close communication not only within the trilateral framework but also in the multilateral frameworks,” it said.
This year marks a rare instance of all three Northeast Asian neighbours serving together on the UN Security Council, with China as a permanent member and South Korea and Japan as non-permanent members.
The nation is home to around 15,000 Indians with many professionals contributing to the country’s IT, shipping, and automobile sectors….reports Asian Lite News
Continuing with his endeavours to further cement India’s relations with its diaspora, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to meet the small but significant Indian community in the Republic of Korea as he begins his first visit to Seoul on March 5.
While one is well aware of the Korea-based Indian actor Anupam Tripathi who became a household name after ‘Squid Games’, the nation is home to around 15,000 Indians with many professionals contributing to the country’s IT, shipping, and automobile sectors.
Some other notable Indian names in the country include Aria, originally named Gauthami, a member of a global K-pop girl group called X:IN.
The visit of EAM Jaishankar, who has always thanked and praised the diaspora while calling them ambassadors of India, comes at a time when a significant number of Indians are choosing the nation as a study-abroad destination.
According to recent MEA estimates, more than 1,300 Indian students are studying in South Korea and a large number of them are pursuing post-graduate and Ph.D programmes, mostly in pure sciences.
With popular education destinations like the UK and Canada tightening immigration rules, many Indian students are considering Korea owing to its quality education, affordable tuition fees, and the cost of living.
For instance, a Korean D-2 Student Visa permits working up to 20 hours per week and after graduation, students can apply for a D-10 visa and start looking for jobs.
In September last year, Minister Lim Sang Woo (Deputy Head of Mission), Embassy of the Republic of Korea, said Korea is keen on more students, researchers, and highly skilled workers, and aims to attract 3,00,000 international students by 2027.
The two countries were also exploring a new migration agreement last year to ensure easier mobility for professionals of the two countries across a range of areas including technology and automobiles.
With EAM Jaishankar co-chairing the 10th India – Republic of Korea Joint Commission Meeting with his counterpart Cho Tae-yul, it is likely that these issues will come up for discussion.
The meeting is expected to comprehensively review the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and explore avenues for further strengthening it.
According to an MEA release, the meeting will also provide an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The Indian community was also addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he visited the nation in 2019 where he said that the main basis for India-Korea relations is “people-to-people contact”.
Extolling the Indian community in the Republic, PM Modi had said that they not only celebrate Holi, Diwali, Baisakhi and other Indian festivals but also involve their Korean friends in it.
“The blood flowing in the people of Korea also has part of India,” the PM had said amid claps and cheers from the community as he recounted the story of Indian princess Suriratna who married a Korean king.
‘India-S Korea FTA Upgrade Likely This Year’
The negotiations on the expansion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and South Korea are likely to conclude in 2024, said Chang Jae-bok, the South Korean envoy here on Wednesday.
The Republic of Korea and India signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2009. The two nations are negotiating the expansion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and have so far held several rounds of discussions.
In a press conference, Chang said the last round of talks took place in January.
“On the bilateral trade front, efforts are underway to expedite negotiations for the expansion of CEPA, signed in 2010. During the last round of talks in January, this year, negotiators from both sides showcased a shared commitment to conclude negotiations within this year,” Chang said.
South Korea is hoping that the negotiations will conclude before the possible visit of Yoon Suk Yeol, the South Korean President, to India.
“So hopefully, the negotiation on CEPA will conclude before a bilateral visit by our president. (the visit will) probably (be) after the elections in India; there is also an election in Korea,” he said.
India has asked South Korea to renegotiate the CEPA to make the trade more balanced and equitable.
In July last year, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that the pact has been often discussed in the context that the Indian industry has failed to benefit from the agreements and the gains have mostly been one-sided.
India’s trade deficit with South Korea rose to US dollar 14.57 billion in FY23 from US dollar 9.39 billion a year ago.
Reflecting on India’s concern vis-a-vis CEPA, the envoy said: “The negotiations on free trade agreements are generally very difficult…. Some parts of the industry will have losses, and some parts of the industry will gain from (the CEPA). However, during the last round of negotiations, we found willingness to conduct the talks soon.”
Meanwhile, Indian and South Korean foreign ministers will chair the joint trade commission meeting on March 6 in Seoul.
During the meeting between the foreign ministers, regional and global issues might come up, the envoy mentioned.
“The South Korea-India Trade Commission meeting is scheduled for March 6 in Seoul. Jaishankar, India’s Minister of External Affairs and his Korean counterpart, Cho Tae-yul, will co-chair this meeting. We anticipate discussions of high-level exchanges, defence, economic issues, science and technology, and people-to-people with key regional issues,” the envoy told reporters. (ANI)
South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin (R) speaks during a meeting with Uzbek scholars and experts at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on June 3, 2023, in this photo released by the foreign ministry.) (Yonhap/IANS)
The G7 consists of the US, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, Yonhap news agency reported…reports Asian Lite News
Seoul’s top diplomat on Wednesday urged the need for democratic and advanced countries like South Korea and Australia to support and cooperate with the G7 economic powers.
Foreign Minister Park Jin made the remarks at a conference hosted by the NEAR Foundation, an independent think-tank specialising in Northeast Asia, calling on “advanced democratic countries” to play their roles so that the international society moves toward the path of freedom, democracy and other universal values.
“Since its launch, the Yoon Suk Yeol government has expanded its international role and responsibility as the world’s eighth country in terms of its status and power on par with the advanced G7 countries,” he said.
“The G7 requires the participation and support of countries like South Korea and Australia, which have faithfully accomplished democracy and developed into advanced economies,” he added.
The G7 consists of the US, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan, Yonhap news agency reported.
He also stressed that South Korea is in an ideal position as a “bridge” country between developed and developing nations across the world.
“South Korea is in the ideal position to play the role of a bridge between the Global North and the Global South, as well as the Global East and the Global West,” he said.
At the conference, Richard Haass, president emeritus of the US Council on Foreign Relations, stressed the need for democratic countries to set rules that push back against “cyber interference” in their internal affairs, noting Taiwan’s presidential election next month, South Korea’s parliamentary election in April and Washington’s presidential election in November next year.
“It is in our collective self-interest to figure out how it is we protect our democratic processes and push back against those — Russia, leading among them, but also others, like North Korea and China — who would interfere with them,” he added.
NSAs to meet in Seoul
The National Security Advisers of South Korea, the US and Japan will meet in Seoul this weekend to discuss trilateral cooperation on North Korea, and other regional and global issues, the Presidential office said on Wednesday.
The meeting between National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong and his US and Japanese counterparts, Jake Sullivan and Takeo Akiba, respectively, will be held on Saturday in line with an agreement reached by President Yoon Suk Yeol, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during their Camp David summit in August, Yonhap news agency reported.
The three sides plan to have “in-depth” discussions on ways their countries can work together trilaterally on regional security issues, including North Korea, global issues and economic security, the Presidential office said in a press statement.
On Saturday, Cho and Sullivan will lead the inaugural session of the Next Generation Critical and Emerging Technologies Dialogue, which Yoon and Biden agreed to establish during their bilateral summit in April.
On Friday, Cho will hold bilateral meetings with Sullivan and Akiba to discuss issues of mutual interest.
Britain has launched trade talks with several countries since leaving the EU in 2020, though it has finalized deals only with Australia and New Zealand…reports Asian Lite News
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was greeted by Britain’s King Charles III and a military honor guard on Tuesday at the start of a state visit aimed at strengthening trade and defense ties between the two countries.
The UK government hopes the Korean leader’s formal three-day visit will help cement an ” Indo-Pacific tilt ” in its foreign and trade policy.
The king and Queen Camilla greeted Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee at Horse Guards Parade, a military parade ground in central London. Heir to the throne Prince William and government ministers also attended the welcome ceremony, where the king and president inspected rows of soldiers from the Scots Guards in grey tunics and bearskin hats.
The visiting couple traveled by horse-drawn coach down an avenue lined with British and Korean flags to Buckingham Palace. The king is due to host a state banquet for the guests at the palace on Tuesday evening.
Yoon also is scheduled to address Parliament and to hold talks Wednesday with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak focused on trade, technology and defense. A defense agreement will see the two countries’ navies work together to curb smuggling and to enforce U.N. sanctions imposed on North Korea to curb its nuclear weapons ambitions.
UK and Korean officials also will officially launch talks on an “upgraded” free trade agreement to replace their current deal, which largely replicates the arrangements the U.K. had before it left the European Union.
Britain has launched trade talks with several countries since leaving the EU in 2020, though it has finalized deals only with Australia and New Zealand. The U.K. also has joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP, an Asia-Pacific trade bloc that includes Japan and 10 other nations.
Sunak and Yoon are expected to sign an agreement covering cooperation in defense and technology, including artificial intelligence. Britain hosted the first international AI Safety Summit this month, and South Korea intends to hold a follow-up event next year.
Britain also plans to invest in South Korean semiconductor manufacturing as part of international efforts to diversify the supply of the key computer components. Many of the advanced chips are produced in Taiwan, and the coronavirus pandemic and an increasingly assertive China have heightened concerns about future supply.
Sunak said agreements made during Yoon’s visit would “drive investment, boost trade and build a friendship that not only supports global stability, but protects our interests and lasts the test of time.”
General Manoj Pande will also visit the National Cemetery and War Memorial and lay wreaths in remembrance of the fallen heroes…reports Asian Lite News
General Manoj Pande, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) proceeded on an official visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Sunday.
The aim of the visit is to further reinforce the robust defence ties between the two nations. The visit commences on November 20, a momentous day in the history of India-ROK relations, the Ministry of Defence stated.
On November 20, 1950, 73 years back, 60 Para Field Ambulances of the Indian Army landed in Busan to provide much-needed medical support during the Korean War.
The Ministry further stated that the itinerary of the COAS includes interactions with the senior military leadership of the ROK and visits to defence formations and establishments.
The key highlights of the tour include a bilateral meeting with General Park An-su, Chief of Staff, of the ROK Army and a dialogue with General Kim Seung-kyum, Chairman of Joint Chief of Staff of ROK Armed Forces.
The interactions will be aimed at fostering mutual understanding, exchanging views on the regional security situation and contributing to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, it added.
General Manoj Pande will also visit the National Cemetery and War Memorial and lay wreaths in remembrance of the fallen heroes.
He will pay a special visit to the Indian Section of the War Memorial in honour of the Indian soldiers who played a significant role in the Korean War, the Ministry said.
The COAS is scheduled to visit establishments such as the Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA), the Korean Army Centre for Future and Innovation (KARCFI) and the Agency for Defence Development at Daejeon.
He will receive briefings on issues of mutual interest and also visit a Drone Combat Unit. In addition, a tour of the Border Management and Surveillance Facility is also planned, it added.
India and ROK celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties in 2023. This visit underscores the commitment of both nations to strengthen the special strategic partnership.
Demonstrating the enduring camaraderie that has flourished between India and the ROK over the years, the visit will further boost bilateral cooperation on a host of strategic issues particularly in defence collaboration. (ANI)
South Korea has so far returned 913 sets of remains of Chinese troops killed during the war since the two countries agreed on the repatriation project in 2014…reports Asian Lite News
The remains of 25 Chinese troops killed in the 1950-53 Korean War will be sent to their home country next week, marking the 10th repatriation of its kind, the Defence Ministry said on Friday.
A ceremony for the handover of the remains will take place at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, on November 23, jointly organised by the ministry and China’s veterans affairs ministry, reports Yonhap News agency.
South Korea has so far returned 913 sets of remains of Chinese troops killed during the war since the two countries agreed on the repatriation project in 2014.
In a statement, the Defence Ministry said it “will continue to repatriate the remains of Chinese troops excavated in South Korea as part of humanitarian efforts and friendly cooperation between South Korea and China”.
China and the erstwhile Soviet Union supported Pyongyang during the war, which began with North Korea’s invasion of South Korea.
The conflict ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas still technically at war.
The frequent deployments of high-profile military assets this year come amid US efforts to bolster its security commitment to South Korea against evolving nuclear and missile threats from North Korea…reports Asian Lite News
South Korea and the US staged joint air drills on Wednesday, involving two US B-52H strategic bombers, over the Yellow Sea, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said, in the latest show of force against North Korea.
South Korean F-35A, F-15K and US F-35B and F-16 fighter jets escorted the nuclear-capable bombers during the drills, the Ministry said, as the allies seek to bolster security cooperation against growing North Korean military threats.
The exercise marked the key US military asset’s return to the peninsula in less than a month after it made its first-ever landing at a South Korean air base on October 17, Yonhap news agency reported.
With the latest exercise, South Korea and the US have staged seven combined air drills, involving the B-52H bomber, over the peninsula this year. They have staged 12 such exercises this year with US strategic bombers in total, including the B-1B bomber, which is no longer nuclear-capable.
The frequent deployments of high-profile military assets this year come amid US efforts to bolster its security commitment to South Korea against evolving nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.
During annual bilateral security talks on Monday, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin reaffirmed America’s extended deterrence commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to defend its ally.
“In line with this commitment, this exercise expands the frequency and intensity of the deployment of US strategic assets to demonstrate an effect equivalent to constant deployment,” the Ministry said, describing the drills as “extended deterrence in action”.
On Monday, Austin also hailed the B-52’s first landing in South Korea as “a milestone” for the US deterrence efforts and unveiled there will be “another carrier battle group that comes soon”.
According to sources, the USS Carl Vinson nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is expected to dock at the Busan naval base early next week.
The two top diplomats reviewed the regional and international efforts towards de-escalation and ensuring the sustainable and safe delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians…reports Asian Lite News
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, discussed with Park Jin, Foreign Minister of Republic of Korea, the ongoing developments in the Middle East region and the efforts to protect all civilians.
In a telephone conversation, the two top diplomats reviewed the regional and international efforts towards de-escalation and ensuring the sustainable and safe delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians. They also explored ways to end extremism, tension, and escalating violence in the Middle East region.
The two ministers affirmed the importance of prioritising the protection of lives and civilians from the fallout of the crisis, and the need to find political solutions to de-escalate the situation and boost the humanitarian response to ensure the needs of civilians are met.
Sheikh Abdullah and Park Jin also discussed a number of topics related to the strategic relations between their countries.
Few weeks ago, UAE and South Korea have concluded their negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Dukgeun Ahn, Minister of Trade for the Republic of Korea, concluded the talks.
A UAE-Korea CEPA will reinforce East-West supply chains, facilitate two-way FDI flows, and enhance joint research and knowledge exchange across a range of sectors, including energy, advanced manufacturing, technology, food security and healthcare.
The bilateral deal comes amid advancing trade exchange between the two nations. In the first half of 2023, bilateral non-oil trade reached US$3 billion, which is consistent with H1 2022 and up 21 percent in the same period in 2021.
The UAE is Korea’s second-largest Arab trade partner, while Korea is the UAE’s eleventh-largest trading partner among non-Arab Asian countries.
At the Presidential Summit in January 2023, the two nations signed a number of memoranda of understanding, including the ROK-UAE Trade and Investment Promotion Framework to pursue optimal trade collaboration strategies, covering areas such as supply chains, digital trade, logistics, business environment and technical barriers to trade, and a U$30 billion plans to invest in strategic sectors of the Korean economy.
In April this year, all four units of the US$20 billion Barakah Power Plant in Abu Dhabi, constructed by the Korea Electric Power Corporation in a consortium that included Hyundai, Samsung, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, and Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction, became operational, with the capability of meeting up to 25 percent of the UAE’s electricity needs.
Anudesh Goyal, CEO of Invencer Health Pvt. Ltd. shared his thoughts on the partnership, saying, “We are excited to join forces with Remedi to launch REMEX KA-6 in India…reports Asian Lite News
REMEDI, a leading Korean research and radiology device company with cutting-edge product, is set to redefine the landscape of radiology imaging in India, bringing doorstep accessibility to healthcare and transforming the patient experience.
The company, known for its expertise in radiology solutions, has unveiled REMEX KA-6, a game-changing addition to the medical field. This innovative handheld X-ray device is not only low-dose but also lightweight, making it the perfect tool for quick and accurate diagnoses.
Thrilled with the groundbreaking partnership, Rena Lee, CEO of Remedi and Dr. Kaushal Mehta, CMO, Remedi expressed their enthusiasm for providing access of Remex KA6 in India, saying, “it is a game-changer in the field of radiology. India being a trade partner to Korea, our objective is to strengthen the healthcare delivery in India and Remex KA6 will play a pivotal role for that. We are in discussion with Invencer health, and soon we will announce our collaboration together.”
Anudesh Goyal, CEO of Invencer Health Pvt. Ltd. shared his thoughts on the partnership, saying, “We are excited to join forces with Remedi to launch REMEX KA-6 in India. This revolutionary device aligns perfectly with our mission to provide innovative and accessible healthcare solutions to India market.”
The REMEX KA-6 is a groundbreaking addition to medical imaging, offering high-quality imaging with variable settings, low-dose imaging, and a compact design. Its user-friendliness simplifies area-specific adjustments, it has wide range of usage starting from healthcare to veterinary to military support. This can be a boon for ICU setting in hospitals, outreach program where early detection through community screening is the key, and also it aligns with the vision of honourable prime minister to eliminate TB by 2025 through community screening.
