Modi – Obama Welcomes Vision on Asia Pacific

In a statement to media on 28 September during his visit to US, Prime Minister Modi welcome the progress in giving shape to the Joint Strategic Vision on Asia, Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions and also joint engagement with regional partners like Japan. It will strengthen maritime security cooperation, he said.

India looked forward to working with the U.S. for India’s early membership of Asian Pacific Economic Community.

India is working on a new bilateral framework of economic cooperation, including the Bilateral Investment Treaty and Totalisation Agreement. (These may exemption to US from MAT which puts minimum tax obligation on companies).

United States Secretary of State John Kerry hosted the inaugural U.S.-India-Japan Trilateral Ministerial dialogue on 30 September Minister Sushma Swaraj and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the 70th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The Ministers underscored the importance of international law and peaceful settlement of disputes; freedom of navigation and overflight; and unimpeded lawful commerce, including in the South China Sea.

The three countries agreed to work together to maintain maritime security through greater collaboration. The United States and India welcome Japan’s participation in the 2015 MALABAR exercise.

BRICS Calls for Political Settlement in Syria

The BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs held their regular meeting on September 29, 2015, in New York on the margins of this annual session of the United Nations General Assembly stressed the need to continue support to the process of political settlement of the conflict in Syria on the basis of the Geneva communiqué of June 30, 2012.

The Ministers welcomed the efforts to resolve conflicts in Africa led by Africa. They believe that the African Stand-by Force and the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises that are being operationalised in the framework of the African Peace and Security Architecture for peace and stability on the African continent.

The Ministers reiterated their deep concern about the situation in Ukraine. They emphasized that there is no military solution to the conflict and that the only way to reconciliation is through inclusive political dialogue. The Ministers called on all parties to comply with all provisions of the Minsk Agreements adopted in February 2015.