'8'
CHINA FOR STRENGTHENING BILATERAL TIES WITH INDIA DR. JOSHI MEETS CHINESE VICE PREMIER
The Human Resource Development Minister Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, currently on a 4-day official visit to China, today met with Mr. Li Lanqing, Member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party and Vice-Premier of China. The meeting took place at the Zhongnanhai Compound in Beijing where the top Chinese leadership resides and works. HRD Minister recalled the centuries-old scholarly and commercial exchanges between India and China, two of the most ancient civilizations in the world. He said this led to increased friendship, understanding and trade between our two nations. Dr. Joshi, stressed that India and China are neighbours, with the largest populations in the world and the Governments of both countries are focusing their energies on economic development, modernisation and raising the living standards of their people. India stood for friendly relations with China, he averred.
Dr. Joshi said that his current visit to China had further enhanced and fostered bilateral relations in the field of educational exchanges. He and his counterpart Mme. Chen Zhili had agreed to boost cooperation in education between India and China.
Vice-Premier Li Lanqing warmly reciprocating the sentiments expressed by HRD Minister, recalled the successful visit to China earlier this year by President Narayanan. He reiterated that China would work to further improve and strengthen India-China relations.
'28' GOVERNMENT COMMITTED TO MEETING POWER REQUIREMENTS IN THE NEXT DECADE The Minister of Power, Shri Suresh Prabhu has said that the Government is committed to meeting the projected power requirements of the country over the next decade. Shri Prabhu was speaking at the Conference on Hydro Power organized by the Punjab, Haryana, Delhi (PHD) Chamber of Commerce & Industry, here today. The Power Minister expressed confidence that the Government would meet the projected requirement of additional one lakh MW over the next 10 years. The Minister announced that hydropower will play a major role in meeting this projected requirement. Shri Prabhu said he has already directed the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) to prepare an action plan on how they can contribute in providing their share in this.
Plans are also afoot to reduce procedural delays in the power Ministry and Inter-Ministerial Groups will be meeting frequently to resolve outstanding issues, the Minister said. Environmental issues in Hydro Power projects should be made part of the project planning process, the Minister advised. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for social and environmental issues will look after the settlement of any social and environmental issues arising out of Hydro Power projects.
Shri Prabhu said time has now come where action has to be implemented for producing additional power, otherwise, the country would face serious problems in the coming years. Measures need to be devised to cut down procedural delays in implementation of projects. Thought also has to be given to generation of power at an affordable cost to the consumer. These measures are the only way to make power projects financially viable, Shri Prabhu emphasised.
The Minister also touched on various ways in which the current average cost of producing one MW of power, which is currently estimated at Rs. 8 crore, can be reduced. These include:- reducing import duties on certain inputs in power projects, proper financing and introducing competition and transparency in the process of project implementation.
'26'
AGREEMENT BETWEEN INDIA AND RUSSIAN FEDERATION ON AVIATION SAFETY
India and Russian Federation signed an agreement at Moscow relating to promotion of aviation safety and joint development and certification of aeronautical products.
This agreement, which was signed in the first week of November, envisages that the aeronautical authorities of India and Russian Federation will conduct technical assessments to develop an understanding on each other’s standards and systems with regard to airworthiness approval of aeronautical products, approval of maintenance facilities, flight operations, flight simulators and training establishments. The aeronautical authorities shall also prepare implementation procedures for reciprocal acceptance of the aeronautical products.
The two sides agreed on the airworthiness standards for light aircraft, transport aircraft, engines and propellers. The aeronautical products developed and type certified by one country meeting these requirements shall be acceptable to the other. This will enable the Russian operators to procure the aeronautical products developed and certified in India and the Indian operators to procure the Russian aeronautical products without going through the process of certification by each country.
Discussions were also held regarding co-development and certification of civil aircraft by two countries. HAL could undertake such work in India. The Russian side also agreed to revive their participation in the 15 seater SARAS aircraft being designed and developed by National Aerospace Laboratory, Bangalore.
It was agreed that the two sides shall continue discussions to expand the scope of this agreement.
Indian delegation was led by Shri A.H. Jung, Secretary, Civil Aviation, and consisted for representatives from DGCA, Ministry of Civil Aviation and HAL. The Russian delegation was headed by Mr. Y.A. Bardin, First Deputy General Director, Russian Aviation and Space Agency.
'31'
MAHARASHTRA ACCOUNTS FOR 50 PERCENT AIDS CASES
CONDOM VENDING MACHINES IN ALL MAJOR CITIES
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. C.P.Thakur, has said that Maharashtra accounts for 50 percent of AIDS cases in the country. Hence, he has called for special efforts to contain the spread of the disease.
Addressing the International Congress on HIV/AIDS and substance abuse, at Mumbai today, Dr. Thakur has expressed his concern over the increasing trend of the HIV/AIDS infection in the country.
The Minister hinted that the Government would be installing Condom Vending Machines in all the Metropolitan cities by this year end in order to popularise safe sex behaviour among high risk groups. He categorically said that information, education and communication is the only way of preventing this dreaded disease in the backdrop of no curative drug or vaccine.
‘27’
INDO-BULGARIAN JOINT SESSION ON ECONOMIC, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION MEETS TODAY
The opening session of the plenary of four-day 13th session of the Indo-Bulgarian Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation expressed keen interest in bilateral ties and joint ventures and hoped that the session will be substantive and result-oriented. During the session agreement will be signed for cooperation in the field of Science and Technology, a Work Plan will be signed for the biennium 2001-02 between ICAR and the Bulgarian National Centre for Agrarian Science and the minutes of the session on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation will also be signed.
Speaking on the occasion Agriculture Minister Shri Nitish Kumar said that relations between India and Bulgaria have traditionally been warm, close and friendly and that India views Bulgaria as a traditional partner in Eastern and Central Europe. Discussions during this session will centre round Agriculture and related sectors, Commerce and Industry, Electronics and Information Technology and Science & technology. Shri Nitish Kumar informed that the Indian exports in the area of software technology are expected to reach 50 billion US dollar by 2008.
Shri Nitish Kumar said that Indo-Bulgarian cooperation is multi-dimensional in character and encompasses economic, commercial, defence, scientific and technological and cultural spheres and wish to enhance mutually beneficial and multifaceted ties between the two countries. He said that we must strive to complement each others strengths so that our economies acquire necessary resilience and develop required competitive edges during liberalization and globalization.
Shri Nitish Kumar said that it is heartening to know that the bilateral trade which was 23 million US dollars in 1998 has picked up during 1999 to reach 42 million US dollars. He stressed on the utilisation of the vast available opportunities for further expansion of economic ties.
The 18 member Bulgarian delegation was led by H.E Mr. Ventsislav Varbanov, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Co-chairman of the 13th Session . Mr. Varbanov informed Indian Agriculture Minister in detail various socio-political changes that took place in Bulgaria in the recent years and informed that private sector is playing an important role in the Bulgarian Economy. Mr. Varbanov expressed keen interest in the exchange of Agricultural research, scientists, cooperation in the filed of Electronics and Information Technology and in the export of tractors and heavy machinery.
`3’ PM CONDOLES DEATH OF C. SUBRAMANIAM The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has expressed grief at the demise of Bharat Ratna Shri C. Subramaniam. A former Union Minister and recipient of the country’s highest honour, Shri Subramaniam played a key role in heralding Green Revolution in India and left an indelible impression in every area of the social and political life in the country that he touched. The Prime Minister recalled Shri Subramaniam’s long association with the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and said that in his death the country has lost a statesman, a visionary and an able administrator.
'15'
UNPRECEDENTED RESPONSE TO INDIA MILLENIUM DEPOSIT SCHEME
FM LAUDS SBI FOR GARNERING OVER US $ 5.2 BILLION
The Union Finance Minister, Shri Yashwant Sinha has congratulated the State Bank of India for its hugely successful India Millenium Deposit (IMD) Scheme. In a short span of about two weeks, IMD was able to mobilise over 5.2 billion US dollars, thereby exceeding the figure of 4.23 billion US dollars collected under the Resurgent India Bond (RIB) Scheme. This achievement is extremely significant considering that US could not be targeted under the Scheme.
IMD has witnessed an unprecedented response from investors all over the world. Shri Sinha said that the resounding success of the IMD is indicative, in no uncertain terms, of the confidence reposed by foreign investors, particularly the NRIs, in the fundamentals of Indian economy. It also highlights the high level of commitment of Indians living abroad towards India’s progress and prosperity, he added.
Shri Sinha said that the deposits received through IMD would also help the country in meeting the increased external obligations on account of rise in oil prices.
ITI has turned a new leaf by recording the highest ever turnover of Rs.2085 crore for the year 1999-2000. During the year, ITI recorded an all time high physical production of Rs.2182 crore maintaining a growth of 15%. Switching production increased from 3.74 million lines to 4.31 million lines and thus registered a jump of 15% over the previous year. The production of C-DOT equipment was all time high as it went up by 45% which includes supply of about 4000 Nos. of Rural Exchanges like RAX and SBM RAX. The production of both Digital Radio and Optic Fibre equipment was the highest ever achieved (more than 10,000 terminals (Tmls.) of Optic Fibre equipment), the percentage increase in performance amounting to 71% and 256% respectively. Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS) registered an increase of 39%.
'39' MEETING OF THE CENTRAL CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL
The 20th meeting of the Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC) will be held here tomorrow under the chairmanship of Shri Shanta Kumar, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
The Central Consumer Protection Council is the apex body constituted under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 for promoting and protecting the welfare of consumers. The council seeks to promote consumer protection by promotion of standards in goods and services, ensuring availability of essential commodities at reasonable prices and providing legislative framework for safeguarding consumer interests and providing adequate redressal mechanism for giving relief to consumer complaints.
The Chairman of the Council is the Minister for Consumer Affairs and it consists of Ministers of Consumer Affairs from various State Governments, Members of Parliament, Central Government Departments, autonomous bodies, consumer organisations, consumer activists, representatives from trade and industry, women, farmers and persons capable of representing consumer interests. The contribution of the council over the years in promoting consumer rights has been rated as significant in strengthening the consumer movement in the country. This is the first meeting of the Fifth CCPC which was reconstituted in April this year for a period of three years.
'7'
INDIA-CHINA DISCUSS CO-OPERATION IN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
A five-member Chinese delegation led by H.E.Gan Guo Ping, Deputy Director General of State Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People's Republic of China called on the Secretary, Department of Company Affairs, Dr.P.L.Sanjeev Reddy here today and discussed matters of mutual interests in corporate governance between the two nations.Both the team exchanged their thoughts on registrations of companies, procedures for compliance of various corporate laws, administration of competition, system of prosecutions of companies, anti-monopolies, fair trade practices, capital issues, securities etc.
Both sides agreed to continue further their exchange of thoughts and experiences in the field of corporate governance to ensure accelerated pace of development of their countries.
The discussions lasted more than one hour and held in a cordial atmosphere.