COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Bangaldesh

• Foreign Minister Dipu Moni visits New Delhi; Indian company to build a complete set of dredging equipment for Mongla Port Authority

Sri Lanka

• Japan's Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications visits Sri Lanka; Six-member British parliament delegation visits Sri Lanka; Proposal for Sri Lanka as the venue for international arbitrations; MR orders appointment of commission to look into the incidents of disappearance

Maldives

• The Order of ‘Nishan Ghaazee’, the highest honour given by the Maldivian State, conferred on Maumoon Abdul Gayoom; US reiterates its support to the Maldives on the issue of economic development and climate change

East Asia

China

• Chinese President Xi met astronauts and scientists who participated in the Shenzhou X mission; Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Liu Yunshan expresses hope that bilateral ties between China and Vietnam can be advanced; China and Russia will hold the Peace Mission-2013 joint drills in Chelyabinsk; President Xi calls for deepening China's reform and opening-up efforts in order to maintain a healthy economy and achieve the goals set; China to carry out a survey of its territorial islands

Japan

• Japanese Prime Minister hopes to hold talks with China and South Korea; Foreign Minister Kishida visits Jordan, extends support towards Syrian refugees; Japan to provide the Philippines with ten patrol ships

South Korea

• South Korea and US hold second round of talks to renew agreement on the burden sharing

West Asia

Saudi Arabia

• Saudi Arabia calls on international community to exert more pressure on Israel

Kuwait

• Kuwait Parliamentary elections: Shias lose; liberals and Islamists gain

Israel

• Negotiators aim for peace deal in nine months

Syria

• Syrian opposition to form provisional government in August

Iran

• Eleventh Iranian government consists of principlists and reformists: Ali Dehqan; Russian president expected to visit Iran

Iraq

• Fourteen people killed by gunmen in Iraq

Russia

• Russia welcomes the agreement to reset Israel-Palestine talks; Russia’s agreements with Syria on S-300 supplies remain in effect; Russia and China to hold anti-terrorism exercises in August 2013; Russia disposes off over 74 per cent of its chemical weapons; Russia and Macedonia sign an agreement on South Stream offshoot construction; Russia to continue to explore new navigation areas in Arctic; Russia invites NATO countries to monitor the Russia-Belarusian war games; Russian and Ukrainian defence ministers discuss bilateral cooperation; Prime Minister Medvedev expresses concerns over the weak competitiveness of the Russian economy

United States of America (USA)

• US Vice-president Joe Biden pitches for enhanced relations in terms of bilateral trade as well as strategic and economic partnerships; Vice President Biden: India are cooperating closely in Afghanistan; President Obama: Fixing economy would be the "highest priority" of second term; India-US partnership on cyber security issues needs to be built; US Vice President visits Singapore.

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