Author: India Writes Network

Cameron stuns pollsters, back in 10 Downing Street

- by India Writes Network

Defying sceptics, British Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative Party swept to a blockbuster victory in the UK polls, winning an outright majority in the parliament.

It was a spectacular victory by any reckoning, which stunned pundits and pollsters who had predicted a hung parliament. The Conservative Party won 331 seats in the 650-member parliament, assuring Mr Cameron a full five years in 10, Downing Street and the first majority Conservative government in decades.

‘Phir Ek Baar, Cameron Sarkar’

The victory elicited a steady stream of congratulations from world leaders. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to felicitate Mr Cameron, and he chose his favourite twitter handle to convey his warm sentiments for the British leader. Improvising on his party slogan in the May 2014 elections, Mr Modi tweeted:” As you rightly pointed out – its Phir Ek Baar, Cameron Sarkar.”

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President Mukherjee in Moscow: India joins Russia in V-Day celebrations

- by India Writes Network

Amid the West’s isolation of Moscow over the Ukraine crisis, India’s President Pranab Mukherjee is in Moscow to join in the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the allied victory in World War II – a trip that also reaffirms and underscores New Delhi’s solidarity with a time-tested partner that is sailing through difficult times.
Intensifying educational exchanges is high on the presidential agenda. The president is accompanied by heads of several top educational institutions, including Vice Chancellor of Delhi University, Directors of IIT Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. In addition, India’s Department of Science and Technology will also sign agreements with Russian Science Foundation. The two strategic partners are expected to sign nine memorandums of understandings and eight cooperation agreements in the area of higher education alone.

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Modi mantra for India-China ties: Cooperate and Compete, while keeping border peaceful

- by India Writes Network

Cooperation and competition are inextricably woven into the fabric of India-China relations. Ahead of his maiden multi-city tour of China, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a long-range view, saying India cooperates with China on the global stage, but at the same time the two countries also compete in the economic arena.

In an interview with TIME magazine, Mr Modi also underscored that the two Asian giants have “learnt from history” and have managed to maintain peace and tranquillity on their disputed border.
Mr Modi’s three-day visit to China, starting May 14, will be keenly watched not just in the two countries, but also in the region and the world. All issues will be on the table, but the prime ministerial agenda will be primarily economic and will focus on getting Chinese finance and expertise to boost the Make in India project and to bolster the manufacturing base in India. During Xi Jinping’s visit to India in September last year, China pledged to plough in $20 billion investments over the next five years, but only around $1 billion have trickled in so far. Mr Modi will, therefore, be pitching for fast-tracking Chinese investments into India.

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China visit will aid Make in India, bolster peace in Asia: Modi

- by India Writes Network

Ahead of his three-day visit to China next week, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resorted to twitter diplomacy, saying his visit will lay the foundation for developing not only bilateral relations between the two countries, but will also bolster stability in Asia.

“Looking forward to visiting China from 14-16 May to boost friendship between our 2 ancient civilizations and 2 largest developing nations,” wrote the net-savvy prime minister in his twitter post.

“Am certain that my visit to China will strengthen stability, progress and prosperity in Asia,” he added.

Mr Modi’s trip to China promises to be a landmark trip that will buttress his economic agenda in seeking Chinese investment and expertise to build India’s manufacturing and infrastructure.

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