Page 357 - SSB Interview: The Complete Guide, Second Edition

2010s

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao paid an official visit to India from 15–17

December 2010 at the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He was
accompanied by 400 Chinese business leaders, who wished to sign business

deals with Indian companies.

In April 2011, the first BRICS summit was held in Sanya, Hainan, China.
During the event, the two countries agreed to restore defence cooperation,

and China had hinted that it may reverse its policy of administering stapled
visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir. This practice was later stopped,
and as a result, defence ties were resumed between the two nations and joint

military drills were expected. India was projected to reach $100 billion trade
with China by 2015.

INDIA-BANGLADESH RELATIONS

Bangladesh and India are part of the Indian sub-continent and have had a
long common cultural, economic and political history. The cultures of the

two countries are similar; in particular, Bangladesh and India’s states West
Bengal and Tripura are all Bengali-speaking. However, since the partition of
India in 1947, Bangladesh (formerly East Bengal and East Pakistan) became

a part of Pakistan. Following the bloody Liberation War of 1971, Bangladesh
gained its independence and established relations with India. The political

relationship between India and Bangladesh has passed through cycles of
hiccups. The relationship typically becomes favourable for Bangladesh
during periods of Awami League government. Relations have improved
significantly, after Bangladesh’s clampdown on anti-Indian groups on its soil,

such as the United Liberation Front of Assam, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister’s
Sheikh Hasina’s state visit to India in January 2010, and continued dialogue

over the controversial Farakka Barrage.

Historical Background