Tuesday, 12 April 2005, 1500 hrs

TOP STORIES
China redraws map, says
Sikkim is part of India
Chinese Prime Minister Wen made several breakthroughs, including a major one on the border dispute. His India visit is already being described as a pleasant chapter in India-China relations

BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Trade with China will thrive
if good vibes continue
Commerce Minister Kamal Nath said at a conference addressed by Wen that China was poised to become India's largest trading partner in two or three years if the rapid growth in bilateral trade seen lately was maintained

Asia Times
The energy ties that bind India, China
As India and China spread out to ensure their oil and gas supplies, they are bound to cross paths. Myanmar is one country in Southeast Asia where this convergency of interests is best demonstrated, and which provides an ideal opportunity for Delhi and Beijing to put one over the anti-China crowd in Washington. By RAMTANU MAITRA

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India Together
Gendered tsunami
A recent Oxfam report finds that women were, and are, disproportionately higher victims of the tsunami than men. While nature doesn't discriminate, says Kalpana Sharma, society certainly does, and such tragedies should remind us of this, or women will continue to remain invisible in suffering.

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Deccan Herald
Wen’s initiatives in India and Pakistan 
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s three days in Pakistan have produced 22 agreements. These include: the second 350 Meg-awatt nuclear reactor, a free trade accord, more military cooperation, the Gwadar port’s further expansion and above all, a ‘Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Good Neighbourly Relations’. The major Chinese aim vis-à-vis both Pakistan and India is to see America’s Asian role reduced, says M B NAQVI 
 

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Market Watch
Globalization and the rise of Asia  
It is not unlikely that continuing population growth, and the development of a modern economy propelled by very advanced technology will push India’s GDP past that of China, and well beyond that of the United States by the middle of the century. By PAUL ERDMAN

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New York Times
It's a flat world, after all
In 1492 Christopher Columbus set sail for India, going west. He never did find India, but he called the people he met ’’Indians’’ and came home and reported to his king and queen: ’’The world is round.’’ THOMAS FRIEDMAN set off for India 512 years later. He went east. He had Lufthansa business class, and came home and reported only to his wife ’’The world is flat.’’ That's what globalization is doing to the world

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EDITORIAL PICKS

Wen visit: Beyond the boundary (Hindu)
A holistic view of trade? (Hindu)
Pope's death leaves a void (Tribune)
Kolkata's anti-Left combine (Pioneer)
Arms and the ally (Pioneer)