Wednesday, 13 April 2005, 1500 hrs

TOP STORIES
India, China, Russia: Wen
moots tripartite alliance
Trilateral cooperation between India, China and Russia will help democratise international relations and safeguard world peace, security and stability, the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, has said  

BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Private FM radio: Ministry
proposes 20 pc FDI
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
India sits pretty with US and China
The Chinese premier's visit, on the heels of the US Secretary of State, confirms that Beijing and Washington are on the same track in South Asia. Both are paying more attention to India, despite Pakistani sensitivities. Yet both badly need a stable Pakistan with Pervez Musharraf in charge: so they're bolstering his military. By B RAMAN

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Indian Express
From ‘Bhai-Bhai’ to ‘Buy-Buy’ 
This picture of the Chinese economy suggests that the arguments for an FTA with China and the according of ‘market economy’ status to it are very weak. For India and China, sustainable economic ties, rather than an FTA, are best, says ARVIND VIRMANI 

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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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Hindu
Keeping the bus going
The people of Kashmir who lined up along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road have offered their self-appointed custodians an exit route. It is up to Manmohan Singh and Pervez Musharraf to seize the moment, says HARISH KHARE

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Outlook
Courting Controversy
Harsh critics of the Tamil writer Jayakanthan may feel that being loud, argumentative and shrill is not the best route to literary acceptance. But the Jnanpith puts paid to that, and as the man says, it is 'not a recognition, but an endorsement'. By A.R. VENKATACHALAPATHY

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EDITORIAL PICKS

Gangubai: Legend humiliated (DH)
BJP: On the RSS mat (Deccan Herald)
Karat at CPM help (Hindu)
Kolkata's anti-Left combine (Pioneer)
Arms and the ally (Pioneer)