2014 Apec Summit China's President Xi Jinping made an opening speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit in Beijing. The leaders of the 21 APEC member economies commenced their two-day gathering in Beijing on November 10,2014, engaging with Asia-Pacific business executives who called for accelerated regional integration to promote sustained growth and recovery in the region while adapting to new business realities. The APEC CEO Summit 2014 gathered 1500 APEC Economic Leaders, CEOs and leading thinkers in Beijing to deliberate the key issues facing the development of the Asia-Pacific economic by sharing views on Advancing Regional Economic Integration, Promoting Innovative development, Economic Reform and Growth and Strengthening Comprehensive Connectivity and Infrastructure Development. The members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) presented their recommendations, reflecting private sector views from across the Asia- Pacific, during a separate informal dialogue with leaders. Other Recommendations Other recommendations include the cultivation of public-private partnerships and mobilising long-term savings, based on the development of capital markets and effective regulatory frameworks, to increase investment required to bridge infrastructure gaps in the region. The establishment of conditions that encourage innovation is also suggested as a way to reverse recent declines in productivity growth. Support for small, medium and micro-enterprises, a more active role for women in the economy and measures that address sustainability issues such as urbanisation, food security, health and green growth are among the other recommendations put forward for consideration. Ice Breaking Moment for China and Japan The summit also gave opportunities for regional democracy, including a possible ice-breaking meeting between the leaders of China and Japan after two years of tensions in an island dispute that raised concerns of a military confrontation between Asia's two largest economies. Beijing has launched a series of initiatives this year aimed at increasing its influence in what it sees as US- dominated regional and global trade, finance and security structures. Silk Road Fund The latest effort, the Silk Road Fund, will finance infrastructure and cooperation in industry and finance to link Asian economies, such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Tajikistan. The summit issued the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting Declaration—Beijing Agenda for an Integrated, Innovative and Interconnected Asia-Pacific. Additional measures are described in Declaration for strengthening the rules-based, transparent, non- discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system as embodied in the World Trade Organisation. The leaders also issued the Statement on the 25th Anniversary of APEC. The next APEC Summit will be held in Philippines in 2015. Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of APEC's founding to boost trade, investment and sustainable growth across the Pacific, it brought together the Leaders, Ministers and Senior Officials of the 21 APEC member economies to unlock new growth vital to global recovery and long-term prosperity. The priorities include • Deepening regional economic integration. • Advancing economic reform, innovative development and growth. • Boosting infrastructure investment and comprehensive connectivity. The Members * Australia * Brunei * Canada * Indonesia * Japan * South Korea * Malaysia * New Zealand * Philippines * Singapore * Thailand * United States * Taiwan * Hong Kong * China * Mexico * Papua New Guinea * Chile * Peru * Russia * Vietnam China Open The badminton equivalent of an earthquake shook the Thaihot China Open with rank underdog Kidambi Srikanth outplaying Lin Dan in the final. Kidambi's win came shortly after senior compatriot Saina Nehwal won the women's singles title giving India an unprecedented two titles at a World Super Series event. Kidambi returned with a title from his very first World Super Series final. The China Open is an annual badminton tournament held in People's Republic of China. It became part of the BWF Super Series tournaments in 2007. Prize money for China Open is $ 700000. Men's Singles Kidambi Srikanth recorded a rare feat by an Indian when he beat home favourite and two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan to win the China Open Super Series tournament on November 16, 2014. This was the biggest win of his career so far. He showed nerves of steel to produce a dominating performance which helped him see off five-time world champion Lin Dan in the men's singles final. Srikanth, who won the Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold in 2013, had finished runners-up at the 2014 India Open Grand Prix Gold event in Lucknow and was a quarter-finalist in this year's Malaysian Open. For Lin, the defeat was his first in a final since the 2012 Korea Open to Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia. This is the first time any Indian male shuttler has won a Super Series Premier event ever since the Super Series and Premier tournaments were introduced. India completed a rare doubles in singles at the tournament after Saina Nehwal's win in the women's section earlier. Kidambi Srikanth is an Indian badminton player who attained a career best ranking of 13 in November, 2014 by Badminton World Federation (BWF). He is currently the highest ranked Indian men's player in the international circuit. He is supported by the GoSports Foundation in Bengaluru. He has been part of their scholarship programme since 2012. He is also sponsored by Li-Ning. Srikanth caught the eye in the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games in Isle of Man, winning the silver in mixed doubles and bronze in doubles. In 2012, Srikanth overcame the then Junior World Champion Zulfadli Zulkiffli of Malaysia in the Maldives International Challenge to claim the men's singles title. Women's Singles Earlier, Olympic bronze-medallist Saina Nehwal beat Japan's Akane Yamaguchi in her sixth appearance at the China Open. Saina has now moved to number five in the world rankings. This is Saina's third title of the year as the Indian had won the Australian Super Series in June, besides clinching the Syed Modi International Grand Prix Gold early in the year. Saina Nehwal is an Indian badminton player who attained a career best ranking of 2 in December, 2010 by Badminton World Federation (BWF). She is the first Indian to win a medal in Badminton at the Olympics. She achieved this feat by winning the Bronze medal at the London Olympics 2012 on August 4, 2012. She is the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships and was also the first Indian to win a Super Series tournament, by clinching the Indonesia Open on June 21, 2009. Saina is supported by the Olympic Gold Quest. Saina Nehwal plays for Hyderabad Hotshots in Indian Badminton League. She won the Arjuna Award (2009), Rajiv Gandhi KhelRatna (2009-10) and PadmaShri (2010). New Scheme s & Programmes KVP Scheme Re-launched The government re-launched the erstwhile popular small savings instrument Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) to encourage people to save more and keep them off fraudulent schemes on November 18, 2014. In the last 2-3 years, savings rate in country has declined from a record high of 36.8% to below 30%. It is, therefore, necessary to encourage people to save more. The collections under the scheme would also help the government mobilise funds for financing developmental plans. Important Points about the Small Savings Scheme • The amount invested in Kisan Vikas Patra would get doubled in 100 months or eight years and four months. This means KVPs would be giving a return of 8.7% annually. This is in line with 8.70% per annum interest rate offered by another popular savings instrument public provident fund. • The Kisan Vikas Patra certificates would be available in the denominations of Rs. 1000,5000,10000 and 50000 and there is no upper limit on investment in KVPs. • Kisan Vikas Patra certificates can be encashed after a lock-in period of 30 months or 2 years and 6 months. Thereafter, investors can withdraw in any block of six months. Prime Minister Launched 'Jeevan Pramaan' The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, launched 'Jeevan Pramaan' - an 'Aadhar-based Digital Life Certificate' for pensioners, in a move that could eventually benefit over a crore pensioners on November 10, 2014. The Prime Minister said that after the push towards self-certification, this digital life certificate was another enabling mechanism which would benefit the common man. The proposed digital certification will do away with the requirement of a pensioner having to submit a physical Life Certificate in November each year, in order to ensure continuity of pension being credited into his account. The Department of Electronics and IT has developed a software application which will enable the recording of the pensioner's Aadhar number and biometric details from his mobile device or computer, by plugging in a biometric reading device. Key details of the pensioner, including date, time, and biometric information will be uploaded to a central database on real-time basis, ultimately enabling the Pension Disbursing Agency to access a Digital Life Certificate. This will conclusively establish that the pensioner was alive at the time of authentication. The earlier requirement entailed that a pensioner either personally presents himself before the Pension Disbursing Agency, or submits a Life Certificate issued by authorities specified by the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO). At present, 50 lakh individuals draw pension from the Central government alone. A similar number draw pension from State and Union Territory Governments. 'Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana' Launched Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram launched the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana (VKY), aimed at improving the infrastructure and human development indices of the tribal population on October 28, 2014. The scheme, modelled on one with a1 similar name in Gujarat, allots Rs.10 crore to each block with a tribal population of over 33%. The scheme is being piloted in Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.