India, China discuss possibility of joint projects in Afghanistan

ndia and China on Sunday discussed the possibility of working in collaborative projects in third countries, including joint initiatives in Afghanistan to tap large mineral resources, as part of efforts to broad base their relationship.

National Security Adviser (NSA) Shiv Shankar Menon, who arrived here yesterday on a four-day visit as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy began his high-level engagements by holding talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Sunday.

After one and half hour talks at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, Yang accompanied by Menon told the Indian media that "talks went off very very well... we have a tour of the whole horizon" of issues.

A significant part of the discussions between Menon and Yang reportedly centred on economic issues and the booming trade between the two countries that is expected to touch a new of high of USD 60 billion this year.

Apparently issues relating to Pakistan and the visit of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari to China beginning from July 6 reportedly to firm up cooperation to build two nuclear power plants figured in the talks.

"We also went to specifics about certain aspects of our relationship," Yang said without directly referring to Pakistan and India's concerns to the two nuclear reactors.

These issues were expected to figure in Menon's scheduled talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and State Councillor Dai Bingguo tomorrow.

India has expressed reservations over China's proposed nuclear deal with Pakistan under which it will provide two nuclear reactors to Pakistan.

"We talked a lot about high level exchanges and visits and (steps) to further boost trade volume to create even better conditions for mutual investment, cooperation and even talked about the possibility of cooperation on certain subjects in other countries and let us have three or four party collaborative projects in the economic field as well," he said.

Yang's reference to projects in third country was interesting as the two sides apparently discussed collaborative projects including in Afghanistan where they want to tap trillions of dollars worth mineral resources jointly with other countries.

Recent reports said huge deposits of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and critical industrial metals like lithium were large enough to transform Afghanistan into one of the most important mining centres in the world.

India, China, United States and a vast number of European countries which are present in Afghanistan could work out a joint initiative to tap the resources which could change the face of poverty-stricken Afghanistan reeling under a Taliban insurgency.

The New START

If whats claimed by Mr.Obama is infact accomplished..we would forever be known as a generation that made a significant progress toward global nuclear disarmament. (Now thats plain Rhetorics )but whats important is if US starts treating
1, Russia a Super-power worthy of negotiations..
2,France an allay and friend with an independent vision of world order
3, China as a partner Nation with different set of values where democracy and equality doesnot function like in the US..

The world will really be a better place..

Technology - A reflection

Though I should say its been a long time (almost an year) since i blogged here. But I was thinking of writing a post here regarding the "There is no Spoon" thing...what expedited it was one of the classical symptoms of a apocalyptic movie's starting scenes..

Yes My office is is in Ashok Nagar and my residence is in velachery and there were about a dozen ATM kiosks in the way.

Yesterday, 21/11/2009 from about 15:30 to today morning 11:45 I a haven't come across a single functional ATM thats dispensing cash. I happen to be a person who actually takes no more than INR 200 per ATm visit. As most of my bills and stuff go via standing instructions/ECS and some through cheques.

I really do not use cash much except for in "Saivaal Coffee Bar"s in Maambalam and some hotels where my dinner happens to be on that day, MTC bus, Share autos and occasional call taxis (when luggage is more of a passenger than me :-)). So, I had about 20 rupees in my pocket (and wallet is full of cards and bills ) and headed to home on a Saturday evening to a rude awakening from my daydream to nightmares ...

I have been an early adaptor of technologies and never the one to complain the normal issues, I remember 2001 as the year I last visited bank for securing entries in Passbook and using a W/D slip. for the past 8+yeasr I've been through SBI, ICICI , Washington 1st Mutual, E*trade and finally to HDFC and never ever felt that the plastic is going to fail me one day...


See this in the Neighbor and Its not limited to my bank (HDFC) I visited 2 SBI and 1 Axis bank ATMs ..
But most guards were unaware of the situation and thought this as an isolated incident(as usual). But, It the morning it was full of a frenzy...there were about 500+ ppl in SBi's ATM which was 3 doors to my home ..

I think the issue is is still there...

BTW I bowwowed 100bucks from my friend to go home and for the weekend...

Maha Shiva Rathiri

It was really a once in a lifetime experience that i underwent in this Shivarathiri to go to Mylapore Kabalieshwarar Kovil...