Japan-ASEAN ties `may stabilize balance of power`
DW,30 May 2014
With tensions rising in Asia over China`s growing assertiveness, Japan has vowed to play a larger role in regional security. Analyst Zack Cooper explains how the move may help neighboring countries defend the status quo. More…
APA urges regional countries to collaborate in making South Asia peaceful, prosperous
Business Recorder, 28 May 2014
The participants of Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) on Tuesday called for collaboration by the regional countries to make South Asia a more peaceful, prosperous and progressive region. They highlighted the growing significance of Asia at the global level in terms of its economic growth, political weight, cultural and civilisation heritage, natural resources and strategic importance. More…
The untapped potential of Saarc trade
Live Mint, 27 May 2014
Narendra Modi s invitation to leaders of neighbouring countries for his swearing-in ceremony could pave the way for better relations. If ties improve, one clear beneficiary will be regional trade. Over the past decade, India s trade with South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (Saarc) nations has lagged behind its trade with the rest of the world, commerce ministry data show. More…
Improvement in Indo-Pak ties vital for regional peace: China
The Economic Times, 26 May, 2014
Lauding the new Indian government`s move to invite Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, China today said improvement in Indo-Pak ties contributes to regional peace, stability and development.More…
A different side of CASA1000
Business Recorder, 27 May 2014
Besides improving the trade connectivity within South Asia and across Central Asia, policymakers and academia at home are seen to have been advocating regional cooperation in energy trade. For all the obvious reasons, one such project is Central Asia South Asia (CASA1000) joint electricity transmission projects between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. More…
Trans-boundary energy trade not that easy for Pakistan
Business Recorder, 26 May, 2014
Perfunctorily, the European electricity interconnection seems like the solution for overcoming energy shortages and ensuring energy security. And why wouldn t it? Such interconnections have allowed Europe to import power from contiguous satellite groupings of power markets and meet its electricity requirements. More…
Khurram urged for regional integration, connectivity for economic stability
Business Recorder, 22 May, 2014
Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan on Thursday urged for regional connectivity and trade integration for the economic development and prosperity of the region. More…
One third of ASEAN trade to be intra-regional by 2020
Business World, 22 May 2013
TRADE among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to increase to a third of their total trade by 2020 as barriers are further eliminated next year, Malaysia s Trade minister said yesterday. More…
Trade officials call for ASEAN Open Sky implementation in 2015
Manilla Bulliten, 22 May 2014
Trade officials are pushing for the implementation of the ASEAN Open Sky initiative by next year to address connectivity issue in a geographically fragmented region as the 10-member countries grapple with increased travel under a single market economy and the need for more airport and seaport infrastructure facilities. More…
Pakistan wants collective Asian Spirit for regional peace: Mamnoon
Daily Times, 22 May 2014
President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday said Pakistan wants to establish a political discourse in South Asia based upon cooperation, not confrontation. Pakistan is desirous of a stable, peaceful and prosperous Asia guided by the Asian Spirit and the goal of creating Asian Harmony , the President said in his address to the fourth summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), held in Shanghai. More…
Bilateral trade: government ready to initiate talks with BJP government
Business Recorder, 21 May 2014
Pakistan is ready to initiate trade talks with the newly-elected Indian government while keeping the interests of the country supreme, said Khurram Dastgir Khan Federal Minister for Commerce. “Our strategy regarding India is still the same and trade talks would be opened on the indication of newly-elected government,” said the minister while talking to media, here on Tuesday.More…