(Current Affairs) India and The World | December: 2013

India & The World

INDIA AND CHINA

The Ministry of Power of the Government of India and the National Energy Administration of the Government of China on 23 October 2013 signed the deal to further strengthen and deepen cooperation in the energy sector under the India- China Strategic Economic Dialogue. The energy cooperation and the proposal for setting up Chinese Power Equipment Service Centres (PESCs) in India was discussed at the SED Working Group Meeting on Energy that took place in Beijing on 26 September 2013. India has become a strategic market for Chinese power equipment manufacturers and that 18 GW of thermal power projects were commissioned under India’s 11th Five Year plan using Chinesemanufactured equipment and about 40GW of power projects are currently under construction using Chinesemade equipment.

Important Provisions of Cooperation Programme

1. The service centres would be adequately provided with equipment, personnel, spares and other facilities so as to enable them to provide all requisite spars and services support within India.

2. The PESCs will be set up in India on market principles. The costs and terms of servicing power equipment will be decided between the PESCs and the end user.

3. The companies will make themselves fully conversant with the relevant rules/ regulations/statutes/approvals and processes being applicable for setting up of such PESCs in India.

4. The PESCs would be directly responsible for provision of requisite services to the Indian power generating companies on mutually acceptable terms and conditions (between the PESCs and the Indian power generating companies) and in accordance with applicable Indian laws/rules/statutes and this MoU shall not in any-way confer any special or preferential status/treatment to the PESCs.

India and China Signed Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA)

India and China signed nine agreements/Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) including the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) on 23 October 2013.

The main objective of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement is to avoid border tensions and army face-offs along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) by deciding that neither side will use military capability to attack the other side nor tail patrols along the border.

The other agreements/ Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were Management of Trans- Border Rivers, MoU on Nalanda University, Cultural Exchange Programme 2013-15, MoU on Cooperation in Road Transport and Highways, MoU on Power Equipment Service Centres in India, Agreement between Delhi-Beijing on Establishment of Sister City Relationship, Agreement between Kolkata – Kunming on Establishment of Sister City Relationship.

Highlights of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA)

  • India and China shall carry out border defense cooperation on the basis of their respective laws and relevant bilateral agreements.
  • Both countries agreed to exchange of information including information about military exercises, aircrafts, demolition operations and unmarked mines-and take consequent measures conducive to the maintenance of peace, stability and tranquility along the line of actual control in the India-China border areas.
  • Both countries agreed to work jointly to combat smuggling of arms, wildlife, wildlife articles and other contrabands.
  • Both countries agreed that they shall not follow or tail patrols of the other side in areas where there is no common understanding of the line of actual control in the India-China border areas.

  • In case a doubtful situation arises with reference to any activity by either side in border areas where there is no common understanding of the line of actual control, either side has the right to seek a clarification from the other side. In such cases, the clarification shall be sought and replies to them shall be conveyed through any of the mechanisms established under this Agreement.

  • Both countries agreed that if the border defense forces of the two sides come to a faceto- face situation in areas where there is no common understanding of the line of actual control, both sides shall exercise maximum selfrestraint, refrain from any provocative actions, not use force or threaten to use force against the other side, treat each other with courtesy and prevent exchange of fire or armed conflict.

  • Both countries shall implement this Agreement without prejudice to their respective positions on the alignment of the line of actual control as well as on the boundary question.

India and China Signed 9 MoUs Including the Border Defense Cooperation Agreement

India and China signed 9 MoUs/agreements including the Border Defense Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) to maintain peace and tranquility on the Line of Actual Control, on 23 October 2013 during the official visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to China. List of Agreements/MoUs signed between India and China during PM’s Official Visit to China

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