China snubs India, will go ahead with Silk Road

THE ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative is a signature foreign and economic policy of Chinese President Xi Jinping to link China to Asia and beyond

Beijing, March 21: China has said it will give a global push to its ambitious Silk Road initiative after a UN Security Council resolution called for its implementation by member-states, notwithstanding India’s sovereignty concerns in PoK.

China’s official assertion came as the state media here asked India to adopt a “more pragmatic” approach towards the initiative, claiming global support for President Xi Jinping’s pet project whose stated aim is to link China with Euro-Asia through a maze of connecting rail, road and port projects.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told reporters here on Monday that in the Resolution 2344 unanimously adopted by the 15-member UNSC on March 17, the concept of building a community of shared future for mankind was incorporated for the first time, reflecting global consensus over the project.

“The resolution urged all parties to further advance the Belt and Road Initiative and raised specific requirements on strengthening security safeguards,” Hua said.

“China would like to work with UN members to actively move forward the building of the Belt and Road Initiative following the Security Council resolution and jointly build a community of shared future for mankind that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness, cleanness and beauty,” she said.

The multi-billion ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative is the official name of the Silk Road or the Belt and Road project. It includes the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to connect China with ports across the world as well as the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor — which passes through the PoK. — PTI