COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Afghanistan

• President Karzai: NATO and the US were partially to blame for insecurity in Afghanistan

Pakistan

• President Zardari to finalise a key agreement to help finance the multi-billion dollar Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project; Pakistan’s Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh: US has committed to funding $200 million for preliminary work on the Diamer-Bhasha dam; India and Pakistan will operationalise the landmark visa accord

East Asia

China

• China and Kazakhstan agreed to improve bilateral ties in various sectors; Belarus and China wow to strength military relations, Wen Jiabao returns after SCO meeting, China wants Vietnam to stop oil exploration in South China Sea, China wants good ties with Philippines, Xi Jinping urges PLA to develop a strong missile force, China opposes United States bill on Diaoyu Islands, Beijing worried over DPRK’s planned satellite launch

Japan
(NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2)

• Japan to impose additional sanctions on Syria

(DECEMBER 3-9)

• Japan and US hold talks on Futenma relocation issue; Japan to provide food aid worth 540 million yen to Haiti; Japan along with the US and South Korea seeks UNSC resolution against North Korea’s upcoming ‘satellite’ launch; The Japanese government issues order to destroy North Korean missile; The US Senate approves legislative amendment to reaffirm US commitment to defend the Senkaku island issue under the Japan-US bilateral security treaty

South Korea
(NOVEMBER 26-DECEMBER 2)

• South Korea and China holds strategic dialogue, commits close cooperation on North Korea; South Korean Prime Minister visits Mexico and Canada

(DECEMBER 3-9)

• Seoul and Beijing consult over possible actions to deal with North Korea’s missile launch; South Korea and Pakistan to strengthen development cooperation

North Korea
(DECEMBER 3-9)

• North Korea considers postponing its rocket launch

Central Asia & Russia

Central Asia

• Tajikistan to receive US$ 137 million from Asian Development bank for ‘innovative growth’; US Secretary of State Clinton accuses Russia of trying to re-Sovietize Central Asia; Uzbekistan allows UK’s Royal Air Force access to its air space in order to move troops and equipment out of Afghanistan; A joint Afghan-Tajik drug raid netted a significant drug seizure; Kyrgyzstan unveils a US$ 7 billion investment plan in order to provide a boost its struggling economy; Several agreements signed during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Kyrgyzstan; Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Prime Ministerial meeting takes place in Bishkek; Arab Coordination Group to provide US$ 480 million loan to Uzbekistan; Iran begins drilling at gas field it shares with Turkmenistan; Kyrgyzstan and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) discuss ways to strengthen their bilateral cooperation; CIS leaders conclud their summit in Ashgabat; Central Asian states amongst most corrupt in Transparency International’s global ranking

Russia

• Russia urges North Korea to reverse its rocket launch decision; President Putin warns the West against repeating the Libyan scenario in Syria; Russia says it believes Syria has no nuclear weapons; Putin and Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey discusses a number of settlement proposals for Syria; Chinese Prime Premier Wen Jiabao pays an official visit to Russia as part of the 17th regular meeting of the Heads of Government of the two countries; Russia to protect position of CIS states at G-20 and G-8 summits; In response to the US Magnitsky legislation, Russia draws up a list of Americans involved in human rights abuses who will be denied entry into Russian territory; Russia’s Black Sea Fleet ships will continue to stay in the Mediterranean for the time being; Russia the US Senate vote for removal of Jackson-Vanik amendment; Foreign minister Lavrov declares that Russia and NATO are interested in improving general security which is aimed at no one in particular

UNITED NATIONS (UN) REVIEW

• UN Climate Talks: India acquires key role in technology transfer for fighting climate change, Seeks funds to help protect Intellectual-property rights; Kyoto Protocol extended to 2020; President Pranab Mukherjee: India eminently suited for permanent membe