AS CHINA INDIA RELATIONS PLUMMET DELHI IS COOL TO HUGE BEIJING SUMMIT

August 27, 2017

published: 2017-05-13 13:14:08India is likely to be represented by local embassy staff or academics this weekend at a major gathering of leaders and ministers on China’s “Silk Road” initiative, reflecting deep unease in New Delhi about the far-reaching project.Foreign Ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said no decision had been taken on whether an Indian government delegation would attend the meeting. “The matter is under consideration,” he said, a position the government has maintained since March when China extended an invitation. Since then, Beijing has stepped up efforts to get India to attend.India’s main objection to China’s plan to build ports, railways and power links across Asia and on to Europe is that the $57 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a key part of the plan, runs through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

Mr Baglay said India supports connectivity across the region, but there is a problem with the Pakistan end of “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) – a term widely used to describe the project.