China, Russia to open up markets for India

NEW DELHI/BISHKEK

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today won greater promises of trade and investment avenues in bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Several world leaders are in Bishkek to participate in a summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Friday.

In a brief discussion on Pakistan with Xi, PM Modi said India’s consistent position was to peacefully utilise bilateral mechanisms to settle disputes. He had personally invested in the relationship, but his efforts had been derailed.

While Russia offered India scope for investment in its Far-East, China said it had dismantled regulatory procedures that would lead to an “uptick” in Indian exports of non-Basmati rice, sugar and pharmaceuticals. Xi assured Modi that China was in the process of dismantling more regulatory barriers. A similar promise was made at the Second Belt and Road summit in April this year.

PM Modi has promised to visit the Russian Far-East in September. His visit to Vladivostok will be preceded by delegations from states. — TNS/Agencies

Pak extends flight ban till June 28

Lahore: Pakistan on Thursday extended its airspace ban along its eastern border with India for the third time till June 28. Pakistan fully closed its airspace on February 26 after the Indian Air Force struck a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot. Since then, it has only opened two routes, both of them pass through southern Pakistan, of the total 11. The civil aviation authority is expected to review the situation on June 15. PTI

Ties with India at the lowest point: Imran

At the moment, our bilateral relationship with India is, probably, at its lowest point… but we hope now the PM uses his big mandate to develop better relationship, bring peace in subcontinent —Imran Khan, Pakistan PM