National
India, Asean working on Asia-Pacific disputes settlement: V.K. Singh
New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS) Stating that India and the Asean regional bloc have been working on regional security architecture in the Asia-Pacific, Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh on Monday said that both sides are looking at settling disputes in the region
“At the politico-security level, we have been working with each other to bring an open, transparent, inclusive and evolutionary regional security architecture which would meet both traditional and non-traditional security challenges,” he said in his address at the inaugural plenary of the Association of Southeast Nations (Asean)-India Business and Investment Meet and Expo here.
“Mutually, we have been working towards evolving a regional security architecture in the Asia-Pacific that hinges on emphasising on the peaceful settlement of disputes.
“We have enhanced our maritime cooperation and security and it has been a focus of Asean-India ties,” he said, in remarks that assume significance given China’s continued belligerence in the South China Sea region.
Monday’s event was part of the build-up to the commemorative summit being hosted by New Delhi on January 25 to mark the 25th anniversary of the India-Asean Dialogue Partnership.
The ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Referring to the India-Asean economic ties, Singh said that while trade between the two sides stood at $5 billion in 1992, it has now gone to over $70 billion.
While Asean is India’s fourth largest trading partner, India is Asean’s seventh largest, he said.
“We are actively engaged in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations,” he said.
“When finalised, it will become the largest trading partnership accounting for 40 per cent of world trade.”
The RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the 10 Asean member states and the six countries with which Asean has FTAs — Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
Singh also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement in 2015 of a project development fund for catalysing Indian projects in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
“This fund with a corpus of $77 million is up and running now with potential sectors identified and pre-feasibility studies being undertaken soon,” he said.
Stressing that developing infrastructure and connectivity is a major ascpect of India-Asean ties, Singh said that efforts were on to enhance physical connectivity through land, sea and air.
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.