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India-China relations are at their most difficult phase: Jaishankar
BY S VENKAT NARAYAN Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, December 9:
India-China relations are at their “most difficult phase,” External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said here on Wednesday. He was referring to relations between the two Asian giants in the aftermath of a violent clash between troops of the two sides in June this year that led to the deaths of 20 Indian and an unknown number of Chinese soldiers.
Speaking at an event organised by Australia’s Lowy Institute think tank, Jaishankar said
China had offered five different explanations for amassing heavily armed troops along its borders with India.
Ties between the neighbours had been “very significantly damaged” by the move.
Ties between the two countries have been tense since May when India detected intrusions into Indian territory by Chinese troops. The two countries share an undemarcated border, seen as the reason for the differing perceptions of where the border lies.
Scores of rounds of talks between the two countries have not yet resulted in a solution though the border was largely deemed as peaceful, except starting this summer when the tensions rose.
Responding to a question about India’s cooperation with China without giving in to Chinese coercion and demands, Jaishankar sketched out a picture of ties over the past three-four decades. The last time the two countries had had casualties on the border prior to June this year was in 1975.
Since 1988 when then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited Beijing, the direction of ties had been broadly positive with an increase in trade and tourism amongst other types of engagement, he said.
“All this was posited on the fact that while we were trying to solve the boundary question, we would maintain peace and tranquillity on the border areas …. You never had a major breach of this understanding,” the minister said. A series of agreements were signed from 1993 onwards to ensure peace and tranquillity on the borders.
So far, the Chinese side had offered five differing explanations for amassing tens of thousands of soldiers with full military preparations right up to Line of Actual Control (LAC) border in Ladakh, he said.
The deaths of 20 Indian soldiers had “completely changed national sentiment” vis a vis China in India, the minister said. “How do we get the relationship back on track, that is a very big issue.”
“We are very clear that maintaining peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control is the basis for the rest of the relationship to progress,” Jaishankar said.
“The relationship this year has been has been very significantly damaged,” he said.
“We are very clear that maintaining peace and stability along the LAC is the basis for the rest of the relationship to progress,” he added.
On the ascent of Chinese President Xi Jinping up the power ladder and China’s rise in the world, Jaishankar said “there has been an evolution in China.”
“You have today a China whose engagement with the world is very different from the way it used to be conducted 20 years ago. You could argue that it is natural that as a country goes up the power hierarchy its behavioural pattern would change. I reserve comment on it. But clearly no question, you have a more nationalistic China. And that is expressed down the line in a variety of ways and often in policies as well,” he said.
On India-Australia ties, the Indian minister said that in the current context of a multipolar world, countries need to look “beyond old habits and established structures.”
“There is a requirement today of a lot of other countries with more capabilities to contribute to the shaping of the global order to ensure the global good, to secure the global commons,” he said.
Countries with converging interests and shared values who relate to each other in various ways could do a lot together not only between themselves but also in their respective regions and the rest of the world, he added.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
