PM Modi says committed to meeting budget deficit goal

New Delhi, Jan 17 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that he is committed to meeting this year's budget deficit target, welcoming a cut in interest rates by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on the back of falling inflation. In a speech, Modi said his government would cut wasteful spending, streamline the payment of welfare benefits and raise investment in roads and railways to boost economic growth in Asia's third-largest economy. Modi's comments signalled his assent to RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan's call for "sustained high quality fiscal consolidation" as a condition for further monetary easing after a surprise quarter-point cut on Thursday. The 64-year-old prime minister said it would be difficult to revive economic growth but promised to deliver incremental reforms. Jan 17, 2015

Japanese foreign minister meets PM Modi in New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 16 (ANI): Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at the start of a two-day trip aimed at boosting ties between Asia's second and third largest economies. Kishida's trip comes on the heels of the crushing win of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in national polls last month and a visit by Modi to Japan last year. Kishida arrived in New Delhi on Friday to co-chair the eighth India-Japan Strategic Dialogue with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj on Saturday. The two foreign ministers will review all aspects of the bilateral relations between the two countries and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Jan 16, 2015
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Japanese Foreign Minister arrives in India for bilateral talks

New Delhi, Jan 16 (ANI): Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in India on Friday on a two-day visit to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations. Kishida is in India to co-chair the 8th India-Japan Strategic Dialogue with his counterpart Sushma Swaraj on Saturday. The two foreign ministers will review all aspects of the bilateral relations between the two countries and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Kishida will begin his two-day visit by paying homage to iconic Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial in New Delhi. He is then slated to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Japan and India have earlier agreed to strengthen defence ties as Asia's second and third biggest economies keep a wary eye on a rising China. Jan 16, 2015