November 10, 2016 Reading Time: 2 minutes
Prime Ministers of India and Japan to meet in Tokyo. Image Credit - TTstudio / depositphotos
Reading Time: 2 min read
Cabinet approves MoU between Sri Lankan and Sudanese foreign ministries
The proposal was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mangala Samaraweera, and aims to strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Minister of Industry and Commerce recommends aligning policies with SDGs
The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen, has recommended that Sri Lanka align its trade and economic policies to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in its journey to achieve upper middle income status. The Minister made this statement on the sidelines of Sri Lanka’s 4th Trade Policy Review at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva.
Minister Bathiudeen noted that, as a founding member of the WTO, Sri Lanka respects multilateral trading systems that level the playing field and that consider the development goals of smaller economies.
Sri Lankan leaders congratulate Donald Trump
President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe have extended congratulations to US President-elect, Donald Trump, on behalf of the Sri Lankan government and people.
Both the President and Prime Minister emphasised the history of Sri Lanka-US relations, and expressed their hopes of working closely with Mr. Trump when he assumes office as the 45th US President.
Japanese Prime Minister to meet US President-elect
The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, and the US President-elect, Donald Trump, are expected to meet in New York on 17 November. The meeting follows a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Abe and Mr. Trump after results were announced of the US presidential election.
It was reported that both leaders affirmed the significance of close cooperation between their respective nations. Prime Minister Abe also emphasised the importance of the US-Japan alliance to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific.
EU and Iran hold ‘High-Level’ political dialogue
The EU and Iran have held the second meeting of their High Level political dialogue in Brussels. The first meeting was held in February 2016, in Tehran. Bilateral and regional issues were discussed, such as trade, energy, migration, and the situation in Syria.
The political dialogue is a regular exchange between Iran and the EU, as previously agreed by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, Federica Mogherini, and the Foreign Minister of Iran, Javad Zarif.
Prime Ministers of India and Japan to hold bilateral summit
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, is expected to meet his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Abe, at the annual Japan-India Summit on 10 November in Tokyo. The two governments are expected to sign a civil nuclear cooperation agreement during the meeting, which has been under discussion since 2008.
Prime Minister Modi stated that he will engage in a ‘detailed interaction with top business leaders from India and Japan’, to strengthen trade and investment between the two countries.
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