International Affairs, April 18th, 2018, Current Affairs Notes - Current Affairs

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Visit of Prime Minister of India to Sweden (16-17 April 2018)
On 16^th and 17^th April 2018, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi visited Sweden on the invitation of Prime Minister of Sweden Stefan Lofven.
i.During the visit, India and Sweden hosted an India-Nordic Summit on 17 April 2018, named ‘India-Nordic Summit: Shared Values, Mutual Prosperity’.
ii. To promote bilateral cooperation, India-Sweden Joint Action Plan was decided

India wins six elections to UN Economic and Social Council bodies
On April 16, 2018, India won six elections to UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) bodies.

India’s election to ECOSOC bodies:
i. By winning these elections, India won places on the executive boards of four UN bodies, three commissions and a committee.
ii. In election for the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Committee, within the Asia-Pacific group, India got the highest number of votes (46).
iii. The NGO committee scrutinises the NGOs applying for consultative status with ECOSOC. It is an important body as it has the power to recommend or block them.
iv. India will serve a four-year term on this committee starting January 2019.
v. Through another single election, India made its way to the executive boards of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for a three-year terms from January 2019.
India has also been elected to following bodies:

Quick Facts about United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):
♦ Formed in – 1945
♦ Role – serves as central forum for discussing international economic and social issues and formulating policy recommendations addressed to UN member countries
♦ Current President – Marie Chatardova

China moots India-Nepal-China economic corridor through Himalayas
On April 18, 2018, China proposed a India-Nepal-China economic corridor with multi-dimensional connectivity through the Himalayas.
i. This proposal was put forth by China after visiting Nepalese foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali held talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.
ii. China has proposed this trilateral economic corridor on basis MoU signed by Nepal to join its multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
iii.The China-Nepal MoU pertaining to BRI envisages a well-developed connectivity network through ports, railways, highways, aviation, power and communications, which according to China will offer suitable conditions for an economic corridor connecting China, Nepal and India.
Quick Facts about China:
♦ Capital – Beijing
♦ Currency – Renminbi
♦ Current President – Xi Jinping
♦ Important Rivers – Yangtze, Yellow River