One Belt, One Road not international venture: India

[Hindustani78]

In this March 2017 photo, workers leave the Badaling Great Wall high-speed railway tunnel in Badaling, northwest of Beijing, China. | Photo Credit: Reuters

http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...he-one-belt-one-road-plan/article17821743.ece

The construction at Badaling is part of a strategic project, integrated with the Belt and Road Initiative — China’s giant connectivity project
By March end, Cherry blossom trees in Beijing, after a long winter, erupt into a riot of pleasing colours, adorning imperial gardens, sidewalks and residential compounds.

This year, however, for factors not so well known, the Badaling section of the Great Wall, on the outskirts of the Chinese capital experienced heavy snowfall. But amid the swirling flurries of snow, the loud clanking of metal and the steady hum of heavy machinery, announced that much more was happening beneath the ground, on the edge of the Wall.

Not far from where legions of tourists climb up the steps of China’s famous icon, railway engineers are working overtime to build an underground station at Badaling. Work is in full swing as the 174 kilometre section of high-speed railway, starting from Beijing north station has to be completed by 2022. That is the year when China will host the much anticipated Winter Olympics. Feeder lines from the high-speed station will carry tourists and sport enthusiasts to Zhangjiakou, one of the major sites of the games.

Belt and Road Initiative
“The work is particularly challenging as this will be the first underground high-speed railway station in China,” says Yang Lei, Director of the office of Key Projects, undertaken by China Railway Group Limited (CREC), the giant company that has been contracted for this work. She adds, “We have to dig to over 300 metres beneath the ground, to ensure that the vibrations do not cause damage to the Wall, apart from other technical considerations.”

The construction at Badaling is part of a strategic project, integrated with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — China’s giant connectivity project, mostly along the ancient Silk Road which, in the past connected Asia with Europe.

Officials at CREC say that the 174-kilometre section is part of China’s north-west high-speed corridor, which will link Beijing with Lanzhou, a city along the Yellow river in north-central China. In turn, Lanzhou has already established a high-speed link with Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang region, China’s gateway to Central and South Asia. Once the Beijing-Lanzhou high-speed section is complete, it will be possible to travel from the Chinese capital to Xinjiang’s administrative hub in 17 hours flat.

Highest high-speed rail track in the world
Apart from serving as the entrepôt to Central Asia, Xinjiang is also vital for the China’s energy security. A string of West-East gas energy pipelines carry copious reserves of the gas from Central Asia to power China’s industrial heartland along the coast. Improved transportation, it is felt, will also prove crucial in defusing militancy, which China can ill afford, if it has to accomplish its BRI plans that are routed through Xinjiang.

From Langzhou, the bullet train passes through the Qilian mountain range-an outlier of the mighty Kunlun mountains. On the way, it encounters five strong wind zones, which in an earlier phase when wind-breakers were not installed, were so powerful that they toppled a train. Heights of around 3,607 metres are encountered along the way, making the Lanzhou-Urumqi link, the highest high-speed rail track in the world.

The CREC is also playing a crucial role in extending the BRI into South Asia. The company has undertaken the Padma Bridge Rail Link project in Bangladesh. Officials say that the $3.139 billion project covers railway construction of 168.8 kilometres. That will include the over ^6 kilometre-long bridge over the mighty Padma river, in a tight timeline of 53 months. If the well-known “China-speed” can be worked up, the project should be completed in November 2018.

A CREC statement said that China and Bangladesh will sign an inter-governmental framework and financial agreement in “One Belt One Road” Summit held in Beijing in May this year.

The Chinese view the Padma project as part of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor, another spur of the BRI. The BCIM hopes to connect Kolkata with Kunming in China. The 2800 kilometre corridor will pass through West Bengal, Assam, Bangladesh, Manipur, Myanmar, before entering China’s Yunnan province, with Kunming as its capital. On the way, it is expected to establish industrial parks, cyber-cities, centres of “soft power” and tourism hubs.

The Chinese are also focusing on Sri Lanka — a country that is firmly on the map of the Maritime Silk Road — a network of international ports that complements the land corridor of the BRI. The Southern Railway Project — a $ 170 million enterprise in Sri Lanka will extend an existing track by 26.4 kilometres.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/chinas-cpec-investment-in-pak-reaches-usd-62-billion-1995473.html

Islamabad: China's investment in its ambitious economic corridor project in Pakistan has reached USD 62 billion, jumping more than 34 per cent from its initial investment of USD 46 billion, a top Pakistani official said today.

Sindh province Governor Mohammad Zubair said China's approved financing for several projects in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has reached USD 62 billion.

He made the remarks at a conference on 'Infrastructure demand and financing' jointly organised by credit rating agencies Pacra (Pakistan) and Dagong (China) in Karachi.

"New investment has been approved for projects in various sectors including [establishment of] industrial zones," said Zubair.

He said that the government was also in talks with China to place the Karachi Circular Railway project under the CPEC.

CPEC project will link the Pakistani city of Gwadar to China's Xinjiang via a vast network of highways and railways.

The project was launched in 2015 with USD 46 billion but later the investment increased to USD 55 billion.

It for the first time that a senior official revealed that now Chinese invent under the flagship Belt & Road initiative has reached to USD 62 billion.

"This [USD 62 billion investment] is good news. People will bear fruits of the investment,? said Zubair.

The investment is being made for several power generation projects which will add more than 10,000 MW electricity to the national grid by end of 2018, according to government.

China is also building industrial parks and railways and roads to link up its western region through land route to Gwadar port on the mouth to the Arabian Sea.


First Published: Wednesday, April 12, 2017 - 19:53

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...shmir-issue/article18102933.ece?homepage=true

OBOR is the official name for the multi-billion dollars Silk Road project initiated by Mr. Xi to expand China’s connectivity and strategic influence in the neighbourhood and around the world.

China on Tuesday defended the strategic China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passing through Azad Kashmir over which India has lodged strong protests, saying the project has “no direct link” with the Kashmir issue as it was an “economic” venture.

Seeking to allay India’s concerns, China also said New Delhi was welcome to actively participate in the ‘One Belt One Road’ (OBOR) project, a pet initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“First, I want to say that we welcome India’s participation in the building of the One Belt One Road project,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said addressing a media briefing on the OBOR summit to be held here from May 14 —15.

OBOR is the official name for the multi-billion dollars Silk Road project initiated by Mr. Xi to expand China’s connectivity and strategic influence in the neighbourhood and around the world.

The OBOR summit has posed a dilemma for India as the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the initiative which passes through the Azad Kashmir (Azad Kashmir).

Commenting for the first time on India’s objections over the CPEC, Mr. Wang said, “You also mentioned CPEC, I want to reiterate that economic corridor is economic.”

It is for the purpose of serving economic cooperation and development, Mr. Wang said, replying to a question about what specific steps China was willing to take to address India’s concerns to enable it take part in the OBOR summit.

“It [CPEC] has no direct link with [the] political and boundary dispute. Certain sections of the CPEC have raised concern on the Indian side. But these disputes are not the result of the economic corridor and economic activities,” Mr. Wang said, defending the project over which India has protested to China in the past.

Economic activities in these regions are not the direct result of the CPEC. China has been providing support to Pakistan in these areas for many years, Mr. Wang said.

“This is a contribution China is making for the development of neighbouring countries, it is a constructive contribution China is making,” he said.

“As for the dispute of Kashmir, China’s position remained unchanged. Also, CPEC has no relationship with the dispute in certain regions...if India wants to take part in the OBOR, there are many channels and ways,” he said.

Mr. Wang also said China has taken positive note of India’s participation in another project —— the Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar (BCIM) corridor.

“India is taking part in the project in its own way. For example, we have this BCIM which is one of the major economic corridors China is planning with the neighbouring countries,” he said.

“We have taken note of India’s positive attitude on this.

In addition to the BCIM economic corridor, we can also have further discussion of cooperation on the OBOR,” Mr. Wang said.

He said 28 heads of state and government will participate.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Sri Lankan Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe and Myanmar State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi are among the leaders that have confirmed their participation.

“Although, an Indian leader will not be here but India will have a representative,” Mr. Wang said, without specifying who would be representing India.

“We welcome Indian representative, members of the Indian business community and financial community to take part in the discussions at the summit,” Mr. Wang said.

In addition to the 28 leaders, 16 Foreign Ministers and Vice Ministers, 190 officials of 92 countries will be taking part in the summit which would discuss various aspect of the project, he said.

Representatives of 110 countries besides UN Secretary General, heads of World Bank and IMF will also be taking part in the event, Mr. Wang said.

The summit will have 1,200 participants, Mr. Wang said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/to-p...en-india-and-pakistan-on-kashmir-2001512.html

Beijing: On a day when India is mourning its braveheart soldiers who were subjected to barbarity by Pakistan, a report suggests that China is increasingly getting interested in playing a role in resolving the Kashmir dispute.

An article in the Global Times, a ruling Communist Party of China publication, says that China now has a "vested interest" in mediating between India and Pakistan because of its nearly $50 billion investment in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor that passes through Azad Kashmir(Azad Kashmir).

"Given the massive investment that China has made in countries along the "One Belt, One Road", China now has a vested interest in helping resolve regional conflicts including the dispute over Kashmir between India and Pakistan," it said.

The latest announcement by Beijing of wanting to play the role of mediator gives hints about the Communist country's plan to become a stakeholder – even though unwanted – in the bilateral tussle between India and Pakistan.

In the guise of protecting its investments, China's offer to mediate has exposed its latent interest in playing a bigger role - as a regional superpower - in the region.

Claiming that China had mediated between Myanmar and Bangladesh over Rohingya refugees issue, the article said, "China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, but that doesn't mean Beijing can turn a deaf ear to the demands of Chinese enterprises in protecting their overseas investments."

"China has been at the centre of a regional power shift, thus the country now needs to learn how to act as a stabilising force and conflict mediator in the region," it said.

There is so much to learn for China about how to play its role as a regional power at a time when the country is witnessing a boom in outbound direct investment, the article said.

"For instance, while China has the capability to resolve conflicts through mediation given its increased economic influence, the nation needs to be very prudent in dealing with other big powers, India included, in the region," it said.

"In fact, mediating between India and Pakistan over Kashmir issue would perhaps be one of the toughest challenges facing China in dealing with regional affairs to safeguard its overseas interests," the article said.

This is perhaps the first time that Chinese official media started floating Beijing's interest in playing a mediatory role to resolve the Kashmir issue.

China's official stand is that the Kashmir issue should be resolved by India and Pakistan through bilateral negotiations, though Beijing has been stepping up its investments in Azad Kashmir (Azad Kashmir).

While China in the past has played down reports of the presence of its troops in Azad Kashmir, saying that they were there to deliver humanitarian assistance, its $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through the disputed Gilgit and Baltistan region increased its involvement in the disputed areas.

India has protested to China over the CPEC+ and is yet to name an official delegation to take part in a summit of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, of which CPEC is a part. The summit is to be held from May 14-15.

Chinese official media also referred to last month's participation of Chinese troops for the first time in the Pakistan Day parade as a sign of Chinese military playing a role in regional stability.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/arun...hinas-one-belt-one-road-proposal-2002874.html
Yokohama: Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and his Pakistan counterpart Ishaq Dar exchanged cold vibes over China's 'One Belt, One Road'(OBOR) proposal during a round table discussion on Asia's economic outlook organized by the Asian Development Bank.

Expressing India's reservations over OBOR, Jaitley said in general terms the idea of connectivity was good, but India has reservations with it because of sovereignty issues.

Jaitley added that the OBOR proposal has several other collateral issues and he would not like to get into further debate on this issue at this forum.

Responding to Jaitley's remarks, Dar extended Pakistan's support to the OBOR saying that such gigantic leap was pressingly needed to address economic challenges persisting issues in a lasting manner.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehito Nakao and Indonesia Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati were also present during the debate.

"The open trading system with lower barriers cannot be rolled back. We need more connectivity and more trade within the region," The Express Tribune quoted Dar as saying.

He said the ADB had a greater role to play in this regard to achieve ultimate economic goals and objectives.

Jaitley is currently on a three-day visit to Japan.

 

[Hindustani78]

The proposal put forward by Chinese envoy Luo Zhaohui (seen in this file picture) also includes starting negotiations on a ‘China-India Treaty of Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation’ and restarting negotiations on a free trade pact. | Photo Credit: AFP

http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...-india-ties/article18407696.ece?homepage=true
Includes aligning its OBOR project with India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and prioritising early solution to border row.
Amid increasing strain in Sino-India ties, China has proposed a four-point initiative to overcome differences and deepen relations which includes aligning its ‘One Belt One Road’ project with India’s ‘Act East Policy’ and restarting negotiations on a free trade pact.

The proposal put forward by Chinese envoy Luo Zhaohui also includes starting negotiations on a ‘China-India Treaty of Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation’ and prioritising finding an early solution to the border dispute between the two countries.

“Firstly, start negotiation on a China-India Treaty of Good Neighbourliness and Friendly Cooperation. Secondly, restart negotiation of China-India Free Trade Agreement.

Thirdly, strive for an early harvest on the border issue. Fourthly, actively explore the feasibility of aligning China’s ‘One Belt One Road Initiative’ (OBOR) and India’s ‘Act East Policy’,” he said.

The Chinese envoy made the remarks while speaking at defence think-tank United Service Institution on Friday but the text of his closed-door address was released by the Chinese Embassy on Monday.

Indo-Pak tensions
Referring to Indo-Pak ties, Mr. Luo has said China is willing to mediate to resolve differences between the two countries if both sides accept it.

He said good ties between the two countries were conducive to regional stability and in China’s interests.

The development of China, India, Pakistan and the stability of the whole region call for a stable and friendly environment, he said.

“Otherwise, how could we open up and develop? That’s why we say, we are willing to mediate when India and Pakistan have problems. But the precondition is that both India and Pakistan accept it. We do this only out of goodwill. We do hope that there is no problem at all,” Mr. Luo said.

During 26/11 attacks
“When the Mumbai terrorist Attack on November 26, 2008, took place, I was Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, and I did a lot of mediation at that time,” he said.

On the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which passes through Azad Kashmir, Mr. Luo said China had no intention to get involved in the sovereignty and territorial disputes between India and Pakistan.

“China supports the solution of the disputes through bilateral negotiations between the two countries. The CPEC is for promoting economic cooperation and connectivity. It has no connections to or impact on sovereignty issues,” he said.

“China sincere in intent”
“Even we can think about renaming the CPEC. China and India have had successful experience of de-linking sovereignty disputes with bilateral relations before. In history, we have had close cooperation along the ancient Silk Road. Why shouldn’t we support this kind of cooperation today? In a word, China is sincere in its intention to cooperate with India on the OBOR, as it is good for both of us,” he said.

The Chinese envoy said the OBOR and regional connectivity could provide China and India with fresh opportunities, calling the project a major public product China has offered to the world.

“It is a strategic initiative aimed at promoting globalisation and economic integration,” he said.

‘China first, not Pak first’
Referring to the views in India that China always puts Pakistan first when handling its relations with South Asian countries, he has said the government always follows ‘China first’ policy and that “problems” are dealt with based on merit.

“I want to tell you this is not true. Simply put, we always put China first and we deal with problems based on their own merits. Take Kashmir issue for example, we supported the relevant UN resolutions before 1990s. Then we supported a settlement through bilateral negotiation in line with the Simla Agreement. This is an example of China taking care of India’s concern,” he said.

On India’s bid for the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), he said: “We do not oppose any country’s membership, believing that a standard for admission should be agreed upon first.”

The envoy’s four-point suggestion to overcome differences comes at a time when the relationship between the two Asian powers has been going through a rough patch due to differences on a range of issues, including China blocking India’s move to get Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar banned by the U.N. and its opposition to India’s bid for NSG membership.

Trade relations
On trade ties between the two countries, Mr. Luo said he was happy to see that China has contributed its share to India’s development.

“Today, China is the second largest economy in the world, with a GDP of 11 trillion US dollars. China’s development also benefited from India’s participation.

“We sincerely hope that India can become more developed, as it not only benefits Indian people but also creates more opportunities for China’s development. Some people in the West misread China and tend to think that the ‘Dragon’ and the ‘Elephant’ are inevitable rivals, and that China would not like to see India developing. This conception is wrong. We hope to see India develop well and we are more than happy to help India develop to achieve common development,” Mr. Luo said.

We are victims of terror
On combating terrorism, he said China has been a victim of terrorism.

“China strongly opposes terrorism; second, China is ready to work with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and the international community in fighting terrorism, and believes that terrorism knows no borders; third, countries need to have compatible policies, consensus and actions in fighting terrorism,” he said.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/610451/india-overly-interpreting-beijings-military.html

India should not "overly interpret" Beijing's military development or exaggerate concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a state-run Chinese daily said today, days after the Indian Army chief suggested New Delhi carry out counter-encirclement of its "future adversaries".

The article in Global Times, a ruling Communist Party publication, said India worries that China was intentionally meddling in India-Pakistan disputes, "utilising the CPEC (which runs through the Azad Kashmir) to grant legitimacy to Islamabad's control over the disputed region."

"India is viewing Beijing and Islamabad as potential threats and is suspicious of Beijing's One Belt and One Road initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)," it said, adding that "India is exaggerating the situation".

"Beijing respects New Delhi's sovereignty concerns, and is willing to mediate in India-Pakistan disputes, on the condition that it accords to the wishes of both India and Pakistan," it said.

The remarks in the Chinese daily came after Gen Bipin Rawat last week said India must have close ties with Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan considering the security matrix.

He said such a strategy will create a two-pronged dilemma for Pakistan, and also help tackle issues with the other difficult neighbour China, suggesting New Delhi should "carry out counter-encirclement for our future adversaries."

Referring to his remarks, the article said China advocates peaceful development and it has and will "never seek hegemony in the region."

China's defence budget will rise by about 7 per cent this year, the lowest since 2010 and Beijing's military development is "part of its national construction, and New Delhi should not overly interpret it," it said.

The Indian media suggests that China's military expenditure for 2017, about 1.3 per cent of the GDP, is three times higher than that of India. "Frankly speaking, even if New Delhi's military spending is boosted to the same level, India still lags behind its northern neighbour in its military capability. For instance, India's development of aircraft carrier is very slow despite its early start," it said.

China has one refurbished aircraft carrier and recently launched a homemade carrier, which was expected to take a few years to operationalise. A third carrier is reportedly under construction.

The official media again urged India to join the ambition Chinese project to link China with Eurasia through the Belt and Road (B&R) initiative amid concern here about New Delhi's apparent silence over participation in this week's B&R summit.

At least 28 heads of state and government, including the prime ministers of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, have confirmed their participation in the summit Beijing is projecting as a global acceptance of the initiative.

The article said "instead of being overly concerned about China's rise, New Delhi should consider taking an early role in B&R initiative. China's infrastructural initiative will not only bring economic benefits, but also fulfil India's ambition to be an influential economic power in the region."

It urged India to abandon its "suspicions" and adopt a pragmatic attitude towards China's and Pakistan's development.

Meanwhile, some Chinese thinktanks warned that India's absence at the B&R summit could affect the active participation of several countries in the region.

Prof Lin Minwang of Institute of International Studies of Fudan University said last week that India's participation was important as it constitutes 80 per cent of South Asia's economy.

"If New Delhi is reluctant to get involved in China's development plan, other countries in the region will also be impacted when participating in the B&R initiative. That's why the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor's (BCIM) progress is very slow," Lin said.

The B&R initiative includes a maze of roads and port projects passing through a number of countries to connect mainland China to markets in Asia and Europe.

While CPEC is highlighted as the "flagship project" of the initiative, it also includes BCIM, New Eurasian Land Bridge, China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, China- Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/chin...name-cpec-from-speech-transcript-2003661.html
In a diplomatic embarrassment, China has removed the remarks of its envoy in India offering to rename the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from the transcript of his speech posted on the Chinese embassy website.

Beijing: In a diplomatic embarrassment, China has removed the remarks of its envoy in India offering to rename the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) from the transcript of his speech posted on the Chinese embassy website.

Chinese ambassador to New Delhi Luo Zhaohui's remarks that "Even we can think about renaming the CPEC" has been removed from his speech copy posted on the Chinese embassy website.

Seeking to allay India's concerns, ambassador Luo had offered to rename the CPEC which passes through Pakistan- occupied Kashmir, insisting it was an economic cooperation and connectivity enhancement project devoid of "sovereignty issues".


He also pushed for New Delhi's participation in the 'One Belt One Road' (OBOR) project.

Referring to the CPEC, which is part of OBOR, he said China has no intention to get involved in the sovereignty and territorial disputes between India and Pakistan and that the project is for promoting economic cooperation and connectivity in the region.

"It has no connections to or impact on sovereignty issues. Even we can think about renaming the CPEC. China and India have had successful experience of delinking sovereignty disputes from bilateral relations before," he had said in closed-door address to a think-tank last Friday.

Meanwhile in Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry parried questions over the Chinese embassy removing the much- publicised offer of renaming the CPEC from Luo's speech.

"You just mentioned a statement of Ambassador Luo Zhaohui while attending an activity in India," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told media here replying to a volley of questions on why the key line expressing China?s willingness to rename the USD 50 billion CPEC was dropped.

"According to my understanding, the Chinese embassy in India released information about the Ambassador's attendance and relevant activities. If you are interested I suggest you use the internet for more information," Geng said.

Asked whether Pakistan has sought clarification from China over the renaming of CPEC as per the reports from Islamabad, Geng said, "I am not aware of that. As for the ambassador's participation and his speech, the embassy has released relevant information on the website."

To another question whether the ambassador was speaking for the Chinese government when he said China was open to renaming the CPEC, Geng said, "You have been asking questions about renaming the corridor. I suggest that information about relevant actives of the ambassador and his speech, the Chinese embassy has put relevant information on the its website. You can check the the website. I have nothing more to offer."

Geng reiterated that the CPEC will not have any impact on China's stand on the Kashmir issue.

"With regard to the CPEC, we have been stressing that it is an economic corridor. China's promotion of the programme does not mean we have changed our position on the relevant (Kashmir) issue," he said.

"These are two different things. We have been pointing out that the issue of Kashmir is left over from the history between India and Pakistan and the two sides would properly address it through dialogue and consultation," he said.

The envoy had also proposed a four-point initiative to improve ties between India and China which includes aligning its 'OBOR' project with India's 'Act East Policy', and restarting negotiations on a free trade pact.

Asked about Luo's other proposals, Geng said, ?As per his proposals what I can say is China and India are two major developing countries in the world. Enhancement of bilateral relationship and expansion of cooperation between the two countries serve the best interests of the people of the two countries.

"It is also conducive to peace and stability of the region and the world at large. China's willingness to improve relationship with India is very clear and remains unchanged."

The Chinese envoy's offer to rename the CPEC has reportedly caused consternation in Pakistan with Ministry of Planning and Development writing to Chinese embassy in Islamabad, seeking clarification over Luo's remarks.

Chinese officials in their 'off the record' conversation expressed scepticism over Beijing renaming the CPEC which is a flagship project of Chinese President Xi Jinping's multibillion silk road initiative called Belt and Road (BR) that too ahead of the BR summit to be held later this week, China was keen about India's participation in the project.

The summit will be held on May 14-15 in Beijing. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and 27 other heads of state and government will attend the summit.

India, which is an invitee, is yet to name its delegation.

Geng said "as far as India's participation is concerned, some Indian scholars have registered to attend the high-level meeting during the forum.

"As the host country, China will warmly welcome all the participants including the scholars from India", Geng said.

To another question about the CPEC's progress, Geng said the building of the corridor is progressing very smoothly and has entered into a comprehensive stage of implementation.

We have planned 17 priority programmes in the field of energy. Eleven were already put into construction. A Majority of the programmes will be finished by the end of 2019. Energy shortage in Pakistan will be greatly relieved and the projects will deliver benefits for the people of Pakistan," Geng said.

Asked about Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat's remarks that India should have good relations with Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan to counter close relations between China and Pakistan, Geng said, "We welcome bilateral cooperation between India and other relevant countries. We hope this kind of cooperation would be conducive to enhance mutual trust among countries in the region as well as regional peace and stability."

*****

Referring specifically to the Kashmir issue, Mr. Luo said, “Take Kashmir issue for example, we supported the relevant UN resolutions before 1990s. Then we supported a settlement through bilateral negotiation in line with the Simla Agreement.”

Chinese academics have given a mixed response to the Ambassador’s address in New Delhi. Liu Zongyi of the of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies told The Hindu that Mr. Luo’s speech was a “true reflection of the Chinese government’s intentions,” and was based on extensive preparations. He described it as “vision framework”, which was not timed to seek India’s participation in Beijing’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative. “The speech was directed not only for OBOR but for the whole bilateral relationship. We wish India would participate in the coming summit, but it will not cause a problem if did not come,” he observed.

In response to a question, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said that “some scholars” from India have registered to attend a high level meeting during the Belt and Road international cooperation forum.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/navigating-the-new-silk-road/article18420757.ece?homepage=true

China’s recent four-point initiative and test its intent. China has suggested starting negotiations on a ‘China India Treaty of Good Neighbours and Friendly Cooperation’, restarting negotiations on the China-India Free Trade Agreement, striving for an early harvest on the border issue and actively exploring the feasibility of aligning China’s ‘One Belt One Road Initiative’ (OBOR) and India’s ‘Act East Policy’. To repeat Nehru’s outright rejection in 1960 of Zhou Enlai’s proposal to settle the border dispute would be a historic mistake.

With the long term in mind


India’s response should be based on its long-term interest and not short-term concerns. First, treat the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — which already has contracts of over $1 trillion covering over 60 countries — as enlarging areas of cooperation; and push for India as the southern node and a ‘Digital Asia’. India cannot be a $10 trillion economy by 2032 without integrating itself with the growing Asian market and its supply, manufacturing and market networks.

Second, complementary to China’s Initiative, develop common standards with the fastest growing economies in Asia that are on the periphery of the B&R Initiative, such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia, to facilitate trade, investment and business engagement.

Third, offer a new cooperation framework in South Asia around global challenges. For example, sharing meteorological reports, region specific climate research and the ‘Aadhaar’ digital experience, despite on-going security concerns.

Fourth, thought leadership provides an avenue to increasing global influence. Hinduism and Buddhism spread to East and South-East Asia with commerce and an urbanising Asia and world, and needs a new organising principle around shared prosperity — principles that dominated India till 1800 making it the world’s richest country for over two millennia.


Economy as strength
India has the potential to be the second largest world economy and Mr. Modi’s participation in the Forum will not be as just one of the 28 leaders and 110 participating countries but as a partner shaping the changing world order.

Mapped: China's 'One Belt, One Road' initiative

Countries are now gaining influence more through the strength of their economy than the might of the military. However, analysts in India have yet to recognise these global trends and continue to see the re-emergence of China through a security prism. Calls for new alliances with Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan “to create a two-front dilemma for our western neighbors, but also encirclement of our northern neighbor from the west” ignore the strategic impact of the BRI which all countries in Asia, except Japan, embrace and require new approaches to secure our own re-emergence.

As a continental power, China is knitting together the Asian market not only with roads, rail, ports and fibre optics but also through currency exchange, standards, shifting of industry and common approaches to intellectual property rights. As the world economy is expected to triple by 2050, Asia will again have half of global wealth. China is seeking to fill the vacuum following the U.S.’s withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and India should add elements to it that serve its national interest as part of its vision of the ‘Asian Century’.

The bonhomie around the Donald Trump-Xi Jinping meet in Mar-a-Lago, U.S., in April is a pointer to how the global order changes. A 100-day plan to balance trade was a key outcome here and the Forum has the potential to do the same for the Asian giants.

Change also raises the question whether existing approaches, institutions and rules are the best way of organising international relations. Coordination between the major powers is emerging as the best way of global governance in a multi-polar world. Despite their territorial dispute, strategic differences and military deployment in the South China Sea, China and Japan have just agreed to strengthen financial cooperation, and the Forum could provide an impetus to settling the border dispute between India and China.

The BRI seeks “complementarities between a countries’ own development strategy and that of others”, though its goals have yet to be formalised, and India would lend a powerful voice to a strategy and structure that ensures common goals will not be neglected.

Mukul Sanwal is former Director, United Nations

 

[Hindustani78]

http://zeenews.india.com/india/indi...at-ignores-territorial-integrity-2004913.html

New Delhi/Beijing: India has decided to boycott a two-day international conference called by China on its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, asserting that it cannot accept a project which ignores its territorial integrity.

In a strongly-worded statement issued hours before the opening of the forum in the Chinese capital, India said it has strong reservation over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as it undermines India's territorial integrity. The CPEC project is expected to figure prominently in the conference which is starting in Beijing on Sunday.

India has said the CPEC project passes through the Gilgit and Baltistan regions of Azad Kashmir (Azad Kashmir), which is an integral part of the country.

"Guided by our principled position in the matter, we have been urging China to engage in a meaningful dialogue on its connectivity initiative, “One Belt, One Road” which was later renamed as “Belt and Road Initiative”. We are awaiting a positive response from the Chinese side," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said in a statement.

"Regarding the so-called “China-Pakistan Economic Corridor”, which is being projected as the flagship project of the BRI/OBOR, the international community is well aware of India?s position. No country can accept a project that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.

Noting that India has received a formal invitation to participate in the six separate forums that China is organising as part of the BRF, he said India is of the firm belief that connectivity initiatives must be based on universally recognised international norms, good governance, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality.

"Connectivity initiatives must follow principles of financial responsibility to avoid projects that would create unsustainable debt burden for communities; balanced ecological and environmental protection and preservation standards; transparent assessment of project costs; and skill and technology transfer to help long-term running and maintenance of the assets created by local communities," Baglay said.

Asserting that India shares international community?s desire for enhancing physical connectivity, the ministry said it believes that it should bring greater economic benefits to all in an equitable and balanced manner.

The spokesperson also noted that India was working with many countries and international institutions in support of physical and digital connectivity in its immediate and near neighbourhood.

He also said that expansion and strengthening of connectivity is an integral part of India?s economic and diplomatic initiatives and observed that under the ?Act East? policy, it was pursuing the Trilateral Highway project; under its ?Neighbourhood First? policy.

"We are developing multi-modal linkages with Myanmar and Bangladesh; under our ?Go West? strategy, we are engaged with Iran on Chabahar Port and with Iran and other partners in Central Asia on International North South Transport Corridor.


"BBIN initiative is aimed at enhancing logistics efficiencies in South Asian region. We are also actively considering acceding to TIR Convention," Baglay said.

The remarks assume significance given that China is trying to project that by skipping the BRF, India may be "isolated" in the region as all countries in South Asia -- barring Bhutan which doesn't have diplomatic relations with China -- were participating.

India also asserted that connectivity initiatives should follow principles of balanced ecological and environmental protection and preservation standards; transparent assessment of project costs; and skill and technology transfer to help long-term running and maintenance of the assets created by local communities.

India's stand on the meet comes after a year of bilateral discord over China?s stubborn opposition to its entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and a UN ban against Pakistan- based terrorist group Jaish-e-Muhammad leader Masood Azhar.

Journalists watch a live feed of China's President Xi Jinping speaking at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum, on a screen in Beijing on Sunday.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...it-ceremony/article18450997.ece?homepage=true

No Indian delegation was seen at the opening ceremony addressed by Chinese President, Xi Jinping.
India on Sunday skipped the opening ceremony of China’s Belt and Road Forum following sovereignty concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

No Indian delegation was seen at the opening ceremony addressed by Chinese President, Xi Jinping.

When inquired, Indian diplomats here pointed to the statement issued by MEA spokesperson Gopal Bagley on Saturday night.

“...No country can accept a project that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.

Few Indian scholars attended the meeting. Media was not permitted into the conference hall, where the opening ceremony took place.

Indian scholars who took part in the meeting said no Indian delegation was spotted.

The meeting called the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) is being attended by 29 heads of state and governments including Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and his Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickrmasinghe, besides official delegations from other South Asian countries.

Leaders and officials from various countries including Russia, US, Japan, UK, Germany and France are attending the meeting.

In a strongly-worded statement issued on Saturday night, India had said that the connectivity initiative must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Guided by our principled position in the matter, we have been urging China to engage in a meaningful dialogue on its connectivity initiative, ‘One Belt, One Road’ which was later renamed as ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ We are awaiting a positive response from the Chinese side,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay had said in a statement.

 

[ashok321]

• China pledges $124 billion for new Silk Road

 

[Hindustani78]

http://aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/10-workers-linked-to-chinese-project-killed-in-pakistan/817575

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan

Gunmen shot dead 10 laborers and injured two others who were working on a road project linked to the multi-billion-dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in southwestern Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Saturday, according to a provincial minister.

The latest attack coincides with the signing of several agreements aimed at boosting cooperation in different sectors between Pakistan and China on the sidelines of the Road and Belt Forum currently being held in the Chinese capital, Beijing, on Saturday.

Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti told reporters that a group of gunmen on motorcycles had opened fire on the workers at a construction site on the outskirts of Gawadar city, killing eight of them on the spot while another two succumbed to their wounds at a nearby hospital.

Gawadar with its 600-kilometer (373-mile) long coastline hosts a key deep seaport operated by China, which aims to get direct access to the Indian Ocean in line with its over $51 billion CPEC megaproject.

The much-publicized project agreed in 2014 aims to connect China's strategically-important northwestern Xinxiang province to Gawadar port through a network of roads, railways and pipelines to transport cargo, oil and gas.

The economic corridor will not only provide China with cheaper access to Africa and the Middle East markets but will also benefit Pakistan which would receive billions of dollars for providing transit facilities to the world’s second-largest economy.

So far, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Recently, there have been several ambushes on security forces and civilians in the city and elsewhere in Balochistan by suspected Baloch separatists who have been fighting for the cessation of mineral-rich province from Pakistan.

In the past, Chinese workers have also come under attack, some of whom were killed and kidnapped in southwestern and northwestern Pakistan. These attacks were blamed on Baloch separatists and Taliban militants.

****
New Silk Road to eradicate terrorism: Erdoğan
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ne...ogan.aspx?pageID=238&nID=113065&NewsCatID=510

China’s Belt and Road initiative to re-create the Silk Road will help defeat terrorism, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said May 14, adding that Turkey would lend all manner of support to the project, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

“This initiative, particularly against rising terrorism in the world, will be an initiative that will almost eradicate terrorism. I believe this cooperation which will benefit everyone will succeed as a model. We, as Turkey, are ready to give all kinds of support for it,” Erdoğan said at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.

“I believe that this initiative, also called the New Silk Road, will mark the future in an effort to link Asia, Europe, Africa and even South America,” he added.

Erdoğan said the New Silk Road initiative was a very important project covering more than 60 countries and almost 4.5 billion people in the world.

The Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.

According to China’s official Xinhua news agency, the goal of the initiative is to build a trade and infrastructure network along ancient trade routes such as the Silk Road that will connect Asia with Europe, Africa and beyond.

Noting that the success of the project “depends on the route countries’ facilitation of trade, cooperation in the customs field, removal of non-tariffs barriers and promotion of investments,” Erdoğan said permitting the usage of national funds by route countries would deepen the financial integration of the project.

Erdoğan also noted the importance of comprehensive cultural cooperation in the fields of tourism, science, technology and the media, as well as increased student and personnel exchange programs, in achieving the road’s goals.

May/14/2017

 

[karakoram]

Owein o o o owein

 

[Banglar Bir]

India skips China’s Silk Road summit amid Kashmir concerns

• Reuters
• Published at 08:29 PM May 14, 2017

An Indian policeman throws a tear gas canister back towards demonstrators during a protest in Srinagar, May 12, 2017REUTERS
India is incensed that one of the key Belt and Road projects passes through Kashmir and Pakistan. The nuclear-armed rivals have fought two of their three wars over the disputed region
India has not sent an official delegation to attend the “Belt and Road Forum” in Beijing and instead criticised China’s global initiative, warning of an “unsustainable debt burden” for countries involved.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is hosting dozens of world leaders and senior officials on Sunday for the country’s biggest diplomatic showcase of the year, touting his vision of a new “Silk Road” that opens trade routes across the globe.

Government officials from New Delhi did not travel, Indian officials said, although scholars from Indian think-tanks have flown to Beijing to attend some of the meetings at the forum.

Indian foreign ministry spokesman Gopal Baglay, asked whether New Delhi was participating in the summit, said India could not accept a project that compromised its sovereignty.

India is incensed that one of the key Belt and Road projects passes through Kashmir and Pakistan. The nuclear-armed rivals have fought two of their three wars over the disputed region.

“No country can accept a project that ignores its core concerns on sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Baglay said.

He also warned of the danger of debt. One of the criticisms of the Silk Road plan is that host countries may struggle to pay back loans for huge infrastructure projects being carried out and funded by Chinese companies and banks.

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China mulls investing $500bn in Silk Road plan http://ptv.io/2ObB 5 May 2017
“Connectivity initiatives must follow principles of financial responsibility to avoid projects that would create unsustainable debt burden for communities,” Baglay said.

New Delhi’s criticism of the Belt and Road initiative came as Xi pledged $124bn to the plan, and called for the abandonment of old models based on rivalry and diplomatic power games.

Leaders from 29 countries and ministerial delegates from many more are attending the forum in Beijing, including India’s smaller neighbours – not just Pakistan, but also Sri Lanka and Nepal.
http://www.dhakatribune.com/world/2...hinas-silk-road-summit-amid-kashmir-concerns/

 

[Banglar Bir]

Modi woos Lanka, promises India Lanka connectivity
Colombo Correspondent, May 13, 2017

Visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday glorified in the teachings of the Buddha and Buddhist based links between the two countries in a backdrop of grumblings in the island over his visit, seen overall as a move to further India’s economic interests in the country. Modi was the Chief Guest at the UN-backed International Vesak Day Celebrations marking the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha.

Meanwhile in the backdrop of professionals and trade unions of Sri Lanka submitting a detailed letter to the Indian Premier through the Indian High Commission in Colombo stating that the current Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA) that has been already signed between India and Sri Lanka, has been ‘almost of no use to Sri Lankan exporters,’ Modi had insisted in his interactions with Lankan President and Prime Minister that no harm will come to Sri Lanka through the envisaged Indian projects.

Despite an obvious hostility by Lankan professionals to the planned projects with India, Modi urged cooperation in the field of connectivity, trade, industry, Information Technology, energy and sharing of knowledge. He pointed out that the foundation for cooperation is quite strong given the fact that India’s development cooperation with Sri Lanka is already worth US$ 2.6 billion.

“As professionals, we cannot agree on your Government influencing the Sri Lankan Government to enter into a new Free Trade Agreement (ETCA) to include Services in addition to Trade, without taking any tangible steps to solve the existing serious issues with the prevailing ISFTA,” the letter sent to the Indian Prime Minister by the Professionals’ National Front read.

“We also wish to draw your attention to the understanding reached on the oil tank farm in Trincomalee in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the recent visit of our Prime Minister to your country. Currently, there is a case filed in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka requesting to declare that the occupation of the oil tank farm by Indian Oil Company (IOC) as illegal. In such a context we cannot agree with your Government forcing Sri Lanka to hand over the oil tanks to a joint venture between Sri Lanka Petroleum Corporation and Indian Oil Company (IOC) and to hand over the whole land where the oil tank farm is established including all access roads to the Indian Oil Company (IOC). We express our strong dissatisfaction and opposition to this,” the communiqué by the trade unions said.

In his meeting with the Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesimghe, Modi had discussed cooperation in development activities including improving “connectivity” between the two countries, rekindling phobia in some quarters on road connectivity which is a highly controversial issue in Sri Lanka as Lankans fear that it might lead to Indian intrusion.

Officials however said that connectivity that was discussed was about establishing a Buddhist Pilgrimage Circuit and flight connectivity. The Indian Prime Minister had announced that he has decided to provide a direct Air India flight between Colombo and Varanasi.

The Indian Prime Minister had also assured in his discussion with the Sri Lankan President that the projects that India intends to execute in Sri Lanka would be for Sri Lanka’s benefit as per his motto – cooperation with all for the progress of all.

Touching on security, the Indian Prime Minister had stated that the security of India and Sri Lanka is “indivisible” and therefore India and Sri Lanka must join hands to ensure security in the Indian Ocean Region.

Meanwhile the Indian Prime Minister also met with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for talks. The meeting with the former president was on Rajapaksa’s request, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaks known for his recent statements of vowing to topple the government in 2017, seemed to have dispensed with his anti India sentiments as apparent by his half hour meeting with Modi in Colombo late Thursday night.

In what was described by sources as a ‘very friendly and cordial discussion,’ Rajapaksa and Modi had avoided politics and spoken about forging ‘close economic relations’ between the two countries. Significantly, contrary to general expectations, Rajapaksa had not expressed any concerns about the recent economic agreements with India which have led to protests in the country. Instead the former Sri Lankan President had dwelt on the deficiencies in the economic policy of the Maithripala Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government and regretted that the projects that his government had launched were now stagnant. Modi had reportedly asked Rajapaksa who is known to be close to the Chinese on the state of the stalled Chinese Hambantota port lease to which Rajapaksa had replied that the agreement was not satisfactory and the Chinese are biding their time. The meeting with Rakapaksa had concluded with the former president promising to visit India for talks.

http://southasianmonitor.com/2017/05/13/modi-woos-lanka-promises-india-lanka-connectivity/