Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts tagged as “China”

Sri Lanka logistics centre with China gets 15-year tax holiday

report in ECONOMYNEXT, Dec 24, 2023 at 7:26 pmA logistics centre in Colombo Port with China’s CM Ports, Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Access Engineering will get a 15-year tax holiday, according to a gazette notice. Thirty expatriates will be completely freed from income tax. The corporate income tax exemption will start from the first year the project company makes a taxable profit or two years after commercial operations, whichever comes earlier. Taxes on dividends…

Pakistan’s imperative for pragmatic diplomacy and economic resilience

by Sayyeda Aqsa Sajjad in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2023.The writer is a Research Associate at NUST Institute of Policy StudiesWithin the complex framework of international geopolitics, recent developments most notably the outcomes of the Xi-Biden summit highlight the necessity for nations such as Pakistan to reevaluate their economic and foreign policy approaches. The evolving dynamics within the Asia-Pacific region and the prominent competition between major powers, notably the United States and China, necessitate…

Nepal, China to discuss implementation modality for cross-border power line

by Prithvi Man Shrestha in The Kathmandu Post, : December 11, 2023 06:58Nepal and China are set to discuss the implementation modality of the proposed 220kV Jilong/Kerung-Rasuwagadhi-Chilime Cross-Border Power Transmission line as the two sides engage to fix a joint mechanism meeting. When Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal visited China in September, the two sides had signed an agreement that China would provide grants to construct the cross-border power line. “The two sides will launch…

China says Afghan Taliban must reform before full diplomatic ties

AFP report, Dec 5, 2023 at 02.15 PM ISTBEIJING: China said on Tuesday Afghanistan’s Taliban government will need to introduce political reforms, improve security and mend relations with its neighbours before receiving full diplomatic recognition. Beijing does not formally recognise Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, although both countries host each others’ ambassadors and have maintained diplomatic engagement. “China has always believed that Afghanistan should not be excluded from the international community,” foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said…

US$5bn China oil refinery project to Sri Lanka cabinet next week: Minister

report in ECONOMYNEXT, Nov 22, 2023 – A agreement for a 5 billion US dollar refinery to be built by China in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota district will be submitted to cabinet for consideration next week, Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said. “We have included in the agenda of the cabinet the awarding of the contract for the Hambantota new oil refinery,” Minister Wijesekera told parliament. “If the cabinet approves, after the agreement is signed, it will…

China seeks permission for another vessel to visit Lanka

report in Sunday Times, Nov 19, 2023The Foreign Ministry has received a request from the Chinese embassy for permission for another Chinese research vessel to enter Sri Lankan waters early next year. The fresh request came less than a month after the arrival of the Chinese research vessel Shi Yan 6, which received permission to enter Sri Lankan waters despite security concerns raised by India. A Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson confirmed receiving the request from…

Nepal awaits Korala border reopening as China readies infrastructure on its side:

By Prithvi Man Shrestha in The Kathmandu Post, Oct 31, 2023Nepal and China welcomed the successful opening of the Lizi-Nechung port near the Tibet border, as per the joint statement issued during Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s visit to China in late September. The port is situated across the border from Nepal’s bordering village Korala in Mustang district. However, it is not sure when the border would reopen for regular bilateral trade and exchanges, according…

Sri Lanka leans on IMF and China as crucial budget test looms

by Munza Mushtaq in Nikkei Asia, Oct 27, 2023COLOMBO — Sri Lanka’s cash-strapped government is breathing slightly easier after a week that brought an agreement on more support from the International Monetary Fund and a promise of “no strings” help from China. But the country still must climb out of bankruptcy, and President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s administration must prepare a budget presentation for Nov. 13 that will likely highlight the difficulty of balancing financial constraints with…

Why China wants Taliban regime in Afghanistan to thrive

by Dewey Sim in SCMP, Oct 27, 2023All eyes were on high-profile guest Russian President Vladimir Putin when China recently hosted the belt and road forum. However, away from the spotlight, there were others present – rarely seen on the diplomatic stage but vital to Chinese geopolitical and regional interests. One such was Haji Nooruddin Azizi, acting commerce minister of the Taliban, the militant group running Afghanistan and yet to be recognised as a legitimate…

China renews support for Sri Lanka

report in Daily FT, Oct 21, 2023—President Wickremesinghe finally meets Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing——-Xi assures China will continue to provide assistance to Sri Lanka without any political strings attached————Wickremesinghe shares vision to set up maritime economic corridor linking China, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and South Africa; In a significant diplomatic encounter, President Xi Jinping yesterday extended China’s unwavering commitment to aiding Sri Lanka in achieving economic stability and progress, devoid of any political agenda.…

China asked to share debt terms to facilitate overall process

Report in The Island, Oct 16, 2023Sri Lanka wants China to share with other creditors the terms of its recent $4.2 billion bilateral debt deal, a step needed to help the country speed up the process of restoring its finances over a year after it defaulted. Sharing the information would ensure transparency and assure other bilateral creditors that they’re getting a comparable deal, news agencies have quoted Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, as sayng…