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April 16

China interested in joining International Solar Alliance

New Delhi: China has expressed interest in joining the International Solar Alliance (ISA), a treaty based inter-governmental alliance of 121 sunshine-rich countries that lie fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. 

"A major take away for India was that China has expressed interest in joining the International Solar Alliance mooted by India," NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar said. He was speaking to the media as he held the fifth Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) dialogue with his Chinese counterpart He Lifeng, the chairman of China's top planning body the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in Beijing.

"It seems we have an opening. If that happens it can be a big shot the arm," Kumar said. He added the core message from the SED was that "we must focus incessantly and unremittingly on the development cooperation possibilities despite differences". The SED, a key platform between India and China to discuss trade and economic issues, was resumed this year after last year's disruption amid Dokalam standoff. 

ISA was jointly launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and France’s then President Francois Hollande in November 2015 on the sidelines of COP21. The adoption of solar energy by ISA member countries is expected to help reduce the use of fossil fuels and combat climate change.

The ISA had become a legal entity in December last year. Sixty countries have so far signed the agreement to join the alliance which was formally launched jointly by India and France last month in New Delhi. The heads of state from 23 nations took part in the first ISA Summit. 

The grouping is looking to mobilise over US $ 1000 billion of investment into the Solar Sector and deploying over 1000 GW of Solar capacity in its 121 member nations.

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