VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: 24th December, 2018

PAKISTAN

As IMF talks sputter, govt seeks another route: Dawn

December 24, 2018

The scale of the adjustment being demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) “is too large” and accession to the programme is likely to be delayed, a senior official involved in the negotiations tells Dawn. “Our talks with the IMF are not going well,” he says, adding: “The only option we have now is to do something on our own.”Click here to read.... [2]

AFGHANISTAN

Pakistan FM In Kabul For Talks With Afghan Officials: Tolo News

December 24, 2018

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi arrived in Kabul on Monday to hold talks with Afghan officials on bilateral relations between the two countries including the Afghan peace process. Qureshi was received by his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani in Kabul on Monday morning. Pakistani media reported that Qureshi left Pakistan on Monday for a four-nation tour as part of Islamabad’s policy of outreach in the neighborhood. The Pakistani delegation consists of the foreign secretary and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who will visit Afghanistan, Iran, China and Russia from December 24-26, 2018, a statement issued by the Foreign Office of Pakistan said on Sunday.Click here to read.... [3]

NEPAL

Gyawali refutes reports about Nepal joining US Indo-Pacific strategy: Kathmandu Post

December 24, 2018

Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Gyawali has outrightly rejected reports about Nepal supporting the Indo-Pacific strategy of the US. During his recent visit to the US, Minister Gyawali had held a meeting with the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, where the two leaders reportedly discussed the US Asia policy, also known as Indo-Pacific strategy. As the policy has been viewed by many as the Washington’s way of countering the growing influence of China in Asia, reports about Gyawali—who represents the government of Nepal Communist Party—expressing allegiance to the US strategy has raised eyebrows of many including his party leaders. But Gyawali has refuted the reports. Click here to read.... [4]

CHINA

China mulls unified foreign investment law: People's Daily

December 24, 2018

A draft law on foreign investment has been submitted to a bimonthly session of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which opened Sunday. Once adopted, the unified law will replace three existing laws, namely the laws on Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures, non-equity joint ventures (or contractual joint ventures) and wholly foreign-owned enterprises.Click here to read.... [5]

Fresh moves announced to spur economy: China Daily

December 24, 2018

China's ministerial policymakers vowed on Sunday to make substantial efforts to boost investment, promote consumption and technological innovation, increase imports and expand opening-up, all moves that are in line with requirements of the newly concluded tone-setting Central Economic Work Conference.Click here to read.... [6]