In talks with Xi, terror, economy to be PM’s focus
Minister Narendra Modi will bring with him a sense of guarded optimism about the future of bilateral ties with China when he reaches Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, around Thursday midnight for an informal summit with Chinese president Xi Jinping.
The two leaders are expected to talk freely and “heart-toheart” on issues that are tied to national interests, their plans for “national rejuvenation” and factors that are slowing down these proposals even though there is no structured agenda for the talks on Friday and Saturday.
Modi, for one, is expected to lay out the details about India’s fight against cross-border terrorism and its impact on the security situation in his country.
He may talk about his attempts to revitalise India’s economy and share details about future policies and the rationale behind those implemented.
Modi could share with Xi the planning that went before India demonetised two high-value currency notes in 2016, a move that was closely watched in China.
He also has the opportunity to share his plans to improve India’s infrastructure and where China, with its vast experience in the sector, could come.
Both the countries discussed cooperation in the infrastructure sector at the fifth Strategic and Economic Dialogue (SED) recently held in Beijing. The core message was that, “We (India and China) must focus incessantly and unremittingly on the development cooperation possibilities despite differences”.
On Xi’s part, it’s hard to believe he will let go of the opportunity to convince the Indian PM about his legacy project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
“Participation in China’s Belt and Road is often in the eye of the beholder. Some countries have signed up but have yet to receive any tangible benefits. Others have not endorsed it but have done business deals that would otherwise fall under the BRI’s broad and ever-expanding banner of activities,” Jonathan Hillman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said.
“India is a good example. It has been critical of the Belt and Road because it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and includes investments in ports and other projects that could have strategic value,” Hillman, the director of the Reconnecting Asia Project at the CSIS, said.
He said the formal membership in the BRI isn’t a prerequisite for doing related business with China. “I don’t think India will endorse the BRI soon. But it shouldn’t stop trying to expand other economic ties with China.”
The last ten months in Chinese-Indian diplomacy, from the tense faceoff in the Doklam plateau to the remarkable turnaround and pre-summit optimism in Wuhan, is a snapshot of the layered ties between the two Himalayan neighbours.
NEWDELHI:Prime