CWA # 2294
TWTW Newsmakers
Switzerland President Parmelin's India visit I China's Golden Week
UN Secretary General's Pakistan visit I Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan defence pact
The World This Week #374, Vol 8, No. 36, 11 October 2026
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Namrata L Ghanghatkar, Priyanka Makhijani and Urja R Kudalkar
11 October 2026
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India and Switzerland:
President Parmelin's visit brings five agreements and fresh momentum to bilateral ties
On 05 October, The Economic Times and other major sources reported that India and Switzerland signed five agreements after talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swiss President Guy Parmelin in New Delhi, during his three-day state visit. The agreements cover a migration and mobility partnership, a young professionals exchange scheme, transport technologies and infrastructure cooperation, a science and technology letter of intent, and an innovation and entrepreneurship arrangement. The migration pact provides multiple-entry visas of up to five years and renewable one-year student permits, while the exchange scheme allows up to 300 people from each country annually. PM Modi said the two sides agreed to deepen defence production and nuclear energy cooperation. PM Modi described the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, in force for a year, as India's first free trade agreement with a European economic bloc, targeting USD 100 billion in investment and one million direct jobs over 15 years. He said the agreement would expand Indian exports of agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, textiles and engineering goods, while attracting Swiss investment in biotechnology, banking, and food processing. President Parmelin said Switzerland hoped to soon conclude an investment protection agreement and stressed progress on intellectual property protection. The second India-EFTA Prosperity Summit, held on 07 October, was set to review progress under the agreement.
("India-EFTA summit today: Trade, investment in focus as Swiss president visits India," First Post, 07 October 2026; "PM Modi, Swiss President Guy Parmelin Hold Talks, India And Switzerland Sign Five Agreements," News On AIR, 05 October 2026; "India, Switzerland sign five pacts to deepen trade, investment ties after Modi-Parmelin talks," The New Indian Express, 06 October 2026; "India, Switzerland to strengthen ties in defence, nuclear energy sectors," The Indian Express, 06 October 2026; "'India's first FTA with any economic bloc in Europe': PM Modi highlights $100 bn investment goal in meet with Swiss Prez Parmelin," The Economic Times, 05 October 2026)
China's Golden Week:
13-day break boosts overseas trips but spending per trip hits four-year low
On 09 October, Reuters and other major news outlets reported that China's Golden Week, the national holiday marking the founding of the People's Republic of China, ran for seven days from 01 October to 07 October, with the 77th anniversary celebrated nationwide. One of the country's longest public breaks and a peak tourism season, it is closely watched as a gauge of household spending and consumer confidence. This year, many combined it with the Mid-Autumn Festival on 25 to 27 September for a 13-day holiday. Mainland travellers made 4.4 million outbound trips, up 9.3 per cent year-on-year, with trips of eight days or more rising from 29 per cent in 2024 to around 42 per cent. South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia were popular destinations, while Japan dropped off the list. Domestically, however, average spending per trip fell 1.9 per cent to CNY 893.92, the lowest since 2022, while holiday box office revenue dropped 36.6 per cent to CNY 1.16 billion, the lowest since 2014. Analysts attributed the pattern to weak consumer confidence amid a prolonged property downturn, describing strong travel volumes alongside cautious spending.
("China Prepares to Celebrate Day of PRC Founding," News By, 29 September 2026; "China's Golden Week boosts global tourism," China Daily, 09 October 2026; "China Golden Week spending per trip hits four-year low amid overseas travel jump," Asia One, 09 October 2026; "China's Golden Week travel surge masks cautious consumer spending," Reuters, 29 September 2026)
UN Secretary General's Pakistan visit:
Guterres calls for diplomacy and recognises Islamabad’s mediation role
On 06 October, UN news and other prominent news outlets reported that United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres had called for an end to the United States-Iran conflict during his official visit to Islamabad. He urged all parties to return to diplomacy and restore navigational rights and freedoms in accordance with international law. The conflict, which began in late February following joint United States and Israeli strikes on Iran, has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and affected global trade in crude oil, fertilisers and liquefied natural gas. Guterres praised Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue between Washington and Tehran, including its contribution to the 17 June Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and the subsequent ceasefire. He also highlighted Pakistan’s contributions to United Nations peacekeeping, its support for Afghan refugees and its commitment to multilateralism. Addressing wider regional issues, he stressed that lasting peace required the realisation of Palestinian self-determination. During his visit, Guterres also highlighted Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change despite its limited contribution to global emissions. He praised its climate initiatives and called on developed countries to lead efforts to reduce global emissions significantly during the current decade. The visit underscored Pakistan’s diplomatic role in regional dialogue alongside its humanitarian and climate challenges.
(“UN chief departs after concluding three-day official visit to Pakistan,” The Express Tribune, 08 October 2026; “In Islamabad, Guterres calls for end to US-Iran conflict,” UN news 06 October 2026; “UN secretary-general concludes three-day official visit to Pakistan,” The nation 09 October 2026; “UN Secretary-General Guterres arrives in Pakistan for official visit,” Yeni Safak, 06 October 2026
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan:
Collective defence pact advances amid regional security tensions
On 05 October, Al Jazeera reported that Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan had agreed to activate collective deterrence measures under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement following Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and critical infrastructure. The decision followed a meeting of the three countries’ defence and foreign ministers in Riyadh. Signed on 07 August, the agreement treats an attack on one member as an attack on all. The countries agreed to provide military forces and capabilities for rapid deployment to Saudi Arabia, signalling a shift towards implementing their collective security commitments. However, the scale and operational details of the deployment remain unclear. On 08 October, reports highlighted Pakistan’s expanding military role in the Gulf without parliamentary involvement. Pakistan’s Information Ministry confirmed that the necessary government procedures had been completed but did not clarify whether Parliament or the Cabinet had approved the deployment. This raises questions about legislative oversight, particularly as Pakistan’s Parliament voted in 2015 to remain neutral in the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen.
(“Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to meet in Riyadh amid Yemen escalation,” Arab weekly, 05 October 2026; “Turkiye, Pakistan agree Saudi Arabia military deployment under Mecca pact,” Al Jazeera, 05 October 2026; “For First Time, Pakistan To Deploy Troops To Aide Saudi-Backed Yemen Forces,” NDTV world, 06 October 2026; “As Munir's military takes on Gulf role, Pakistan's parliament is not involved,” Reuters, 09 October 2026)
Horn of Africa:
Egypt talks on sovereignty and Nile water as Tigray fighting flares, with no concrete plan announced
On 05 October, Arab News and other major news outlets reported that the leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan had called for peaceful solutions to regional disputes during a mini-summit in El-Alamein, Egypt. The meeting took place amid renewed fighting in Ethiopia and concerns over wider regional instability. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan attended the summit. The leaders stressed national sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference and adherence to international law on transboundary rivers. The meeting coincided with Ethiopian federal forces regaining control of Mekelle, the Tigray regional capital, following renewed clashes with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Ethiopia accused Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan of supporting the Tigrayan rebels, but all three denied the allegations. Egypt and Sudan also remain in dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and Nile water security. Although the summit emphasised peaceful dispute resolution, it announced no specific mechanism to address these tensions.
(“Ethiopia controls Tigray capital as regional rivals meet in Egypt, The Hindu, 04 October 2026; “Ethiopia’s regional rivals urge ‘peaceful’ solutions to disputes at Egypt summit,” Arab News, 05 October 2026; “Ethiopian forces seize Mekelle as regional rivals gather in Egypt, The Africa report, 04 October 2026; “Ethiopian federal forces control Tigray capital as regional rivals meet in Egypt,” France 24, 04 October 2026)
Myanmar leader’s visit to Malaysia:
Talks focus on regional engagement and repatriation amid continuing political tensions
On 08 October, Al Jazeera and major news outlets reported that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had pledged to support Myanmar’s reintegration into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during talks with President Min Aung Hlaing in Kuala Lumpur. Myanmar has been excluded from high-level ASEAN political meetings since 2021 over its failure to implement the bloc’s peace plan following the military coup. Anwar said Malaysia would continue cooperation on regional engagement and the repatriation of Myanmar nationals. He confirmed that 10,493 nationals had been accepted for return, while Min Aung Hlaing said more detainees would be repatriated. Malaysia stated that the visit did not constitute recognition of Myanmar’s military-backed government. However, the engagement has drawn criticism from human rights groups concerned about conditions in Myanmar and the safety of those returned amid the ongoing conflict. The discussions also covered trade, energy, security and economic cooperation. The visit highlights Malaysia’s effort to pursue diplomatic engagement while ASEAN’s restrictions on Myanmar’s political representation remain in place. The extent to which this approach can support reintegration while addressing continuing human rights concerns remains uncertain.
(“Malaysia PM says will work on Myanmar’s ASEAN reintegration,” Al Jazeera, 08 October 2026; Malaysia to work towards Myanmar's full reintegration into ASEAN, PM says,” Reuters, 08 October 2026; Myanmar leader to visit Malaysia after migrant returns begin, France24, 06 October 2026; “Malaysia to work towards Myanmar's full reintegration into ASEAN, says Anwar,” CAN, 08 October 2026)
About the author
Namrata L Ghanghatkar, Priyanka Makhijani, Urja R Kudalkar are postgraduate students at the Department of Public Policy, Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences. They are currently Research interns at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)