Current Affairs - International

India and China marked the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations with leaders exchanging congratulatory messages. This milestone reflects the long-standing diplomatic ties between the two nations, even amidst past tensions such as the Ladakh standoff. The exchange of messages between President Xi Jinping and President Droupadi Murmu, along with Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Modi, underscores efforts to strengthen bilateral relations. This celebration signifies a potential reset and a renewed focus on cooperation and diplomacy between India and China.

PM Modi is scheduled to visit Thailand on April 3 to participate in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, which will be held in Bangkok on April 4. BIMSTEC, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, is an international organization comprising seven nations: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The summit’s theme is "Prosperous, Resilient, and Open BIMSTEC," focusing on regional cooperation and sustainable development. Thailand, as the host country, plays a key role in facilitating these discussions.

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is set to revise the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act to officially recognize crypto assets as legal financial products. This move aims to bring crypto under the purview of insider trading laws, ensuring the protection against the misuse of confidential information. A related bill is expected to be presented to Parliament by 2026 for formal implementation, highlighting Japan's proactive stance in regulating the crypto industry.

The Strengthening Multimodal and Integrated Logistics Ecosystem (SMILE) Program in India is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This initiative aims to enhance India’s logistics infrastructure, reduce logistics costs, and improve efficiency through multimodal transportation, warehousing standardization, and digital transformation in trade logistics. The SMILE Program supports the National Logistics Policy (NLP) and PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, contributing to India’s goal of becoming a global manufacturing and supply chain hub. ADB’s support is vital for aligning India’s logistics sector with international standards and boosting global competitiveness.

The ‘Nutrition for Growth’ event, where UNESCO released the report "Education and Nutrition: Learn to Eat Well," was hosted by France on March 27-28, 2025. The report focuses on the nutritional quality of school meals globally, urging governments to enhance food standards in schools. It highlights the importance of nutritious meals in reducing child undernourishment and boosting academic performance. The event underscored the global need for improved school meal programs, with France playing a key role in promoting nutrition-focused initiatives worldwide.