JAKARTA — Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Saturday Beijing wants to boost cooperation in trade and security with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In a policy speech on the last day of a three-day visit to Indonesia, the current chair of ASEAN and its biggest member, Wen extolled the virtues of an ASEAN-China free trade agreement (FTA) that came into effect in January.

It should be noted that the trade between the jurisdictions comprising the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China is not negligible. As the economy of China has shown tremendous growth in recent years, so too have many of the ASEAN nations. It is interesting that as both regions grow, they seem to create a mutually beneficial feedback loop in terms of trade and business. To quote further from the aforementioned article in the China Post:

“Last year, China became ASEAN’s biggest trading partner. We launched the largest FTA among developing countries and we have set the target of US$500 billion in two-way trade by 2015,” he said.

The administration of this web log highly recommends that readers click upon the above hyperlinks to learn more on this story and the issues associated therewith. It would appear as though the current trading relationship between ASEAN and China is highly beneficial to many of the economies concerned.

Meanwhile, of possibly more pressing interest to some, it would appear as though the United States Embassy in India is taking some precautionary measures in the aftermath of the recent announcement that notorious terrorist Osama bin Laden is deceased. To quote directly from the official website of the Times of India:

NEW DELHI: Immediately after the United States informed India on Monday about the killing of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden by American forces in Pakistan, security was tightened around the US Embassy in New Delhi and consulates in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

“Besides asking Delhi Police to enhance its deployment around the US embassy here, the home ministry issued advisories asking states having US consulates to strengthen the security of these places”, said a senior home ministry official.

The administration of this blog again strongly recommends that readers click upon the hyperlinks above to read the above story in detail. Frequent readers of this web log may take note of the fact that the United States maintains the American Corner Bangalore.

Clearly authorities are taking precautions in reaction to recently announced events. It is likely that further information will come to light regarding all of these subjects in the coming weeks, months, and years. Hopefully, all of these precautions will prove unnecessary, but this remains, as of yet, to be seen.

For related information please see: business in China or US Visa India.

Holidays 2011

Date	Day	Holiday	American/Indian
December 31, 2010*	Friday	New Year’s Day	American
January 14, 2011	Friday	Makar Sankaranti (for Ahmedabad USCS only)	Indian
January 17, 2011	Monday	Martin Luther King’s B’Day	American
January 26, 2011	Wednesday	Republic Day	Indian
February 21, 2011	Monday	Washington’s Birthday	American
April 22, 2011	Friday	Good Friday	Indian
May 30, 2011	Monday	Memorial Day	American
July 4, 2011	Monday	Independence Day	American
August 15, 2011	Monday	Independence Day	Indian
August 19, 2011	Friday	Parsi New Year	Indian
August 31, 2011	Wednesday	Ramzan-Id (Id-ul-Fitar) (Not for Ahmedabad USCS)	Indian
September 1, 2011	Thursday	Ganesh Chaturthi	Indian
September 5, 2011	Monday	Labor Day	American
October 6, 2011	Thursday	Dussehra	Indian
October 10, 2011	Monday	Columbus Day	American
October 26, 2011	Wednesday	Diwali (Laxmi Pujan)	Indian
October 27, 2011	Thursday	Diwali (Balipratipada)	Indian
November 7, 2011	Monday	Bakri Id (Id-ul-Zua)	Indian
November 11, 2011	Friday	Veteran’s Day	American
November 24, 2011	Thursday	Thanksgiving Day	American
December 26, 2011**	Friday	Christmas Day	American

* In lieu of January 1, 2011 (Saturday)
** In lieu of December 25, 2011 (Sunday)

Note: The Embassy and Consulates are closed to the public on the last Wednesday of every month.

Those seeking Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, US Passports, or new visa pages for a previously issued American passport are well advised to contact an American Citizen Services Section of the nearest Post. In many cases, an American’s request can be better handled by making an appointment online with the local Post.

For those wishing to visit the homepage of the official website of the US Consulate in Mumbai please click HERE.

Those seeking non-immigrant visas such as the US tourist visa (B-2 category), the US student visa (F-1 category), the US exchange visitor visa (J-1 category), and/or the US Business Visa (B-1 category) are likely required to process their application through a Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) Unit at an American Post abroad. It should be noted that non-immigrant visa applicants are generally subject to Consular scrutiny pursuant to section 214(b) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act. Meanwhile, those seeking immigrant visas such as an IR-1 visa or a CR-1 visa will likely process their request through an Immigrant Visa (IV) Unit of a US Mission abroad. For processing purposes, the K-1 visa application, a non-immigrant US fiance visa, is treated much the same way as an immigrant visa application.

Those seeking an EB-5 visa or an L-1 visa must process an immigration petition through USCIS (the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service) prior to processing a visa application at a Post abroad.

For related information please see: K3 Visa India.

Holidays 2010

Date	Day	Holiday	American/Indian
January 01	Friday	New Year’s Day	American
January 14	Thursday	Makar Sankaranti (for Ahmedabad USCS only)	Indian
January 18	Monday	Martin Luther King’s B’Day	American
January 26	Tuesday	Republic Day	Indian
February 12	Friday	Mahashivratri	Indian
February 15	Monday	Washington’s Birthday	American
March 1	Monday	Holi	Indian
March 16	Tuesday	Gudi Padwa (for Ahmedabad USCS only)	Indian
April 2	Friday	Good Friday	Indian
May 27	Thursday	Buddha Pournima	Indian
May 31	Monday	Memorial Day	American
July 05 *	Monday	Independence Day	American
August 19	Thursday	Parsi New Year	Indian
September 06	Monday	Labor Day	American
September 10	Friday	Ramzan-Id (Id-ul-Fitar)	Indian
October 11	Monday	Columbus Day	American
November 5	Friday	Diwali (Laxmi Pujan)	Indian
November 11	Thursday	Veterans’ Day	American
November 17	Wednesday	Bakri Id (Id-ul-Zua)	Indian
November 25	Thursday	Thanksgiving Day	American
December 24**	Friday	Christmas Day	American

* In lieu of July 4, Sunday
** In lieu of December 25, Saturday

Note: The American Citizens Services Unit will remain closed for services on every last Wednesday of each month for administrative purposes.

American Citizen Services (ACS) generally assists US Citizens, or Lawful Permanent Resident traveling abroad, with matters such as Passport issuance, Consular Report of Birth Abroad issuance, issuance of new visa pages, as well as notarizations. Those who may need to request the services of ACS are well advised to check the holiday closing schedule and also look to the official Consulate website in order to ascertain whether or not the Post provides online appointment scheduling. Scheduling an appointment online can greatly streamline dealing with ACS as Consular Officers are put on notice of requested services and can plan accordingly.