Russia Urges India to Line up Behind China's Belt and Road Initiative

[onebyone]

Reuters
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj (C) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shake hands before the start of their meeting in New Delhi, India, December 11, 2017. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi Reuters



By Sanjeev Miglani

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Russia threw its weight behind China's massive Belt and Road plan to build trade and transport links across Asia and beyond, suggesting to India on Monday that it find a way to work with Beijing on the signature project.

India is strongly opposed to an economic corridor that China is building in Pakistan that runs through disputed Kashmir as part of the Belt and Road initiative.

India was the only country that stayed away from a May summit hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping to promote the plan to build railways, ports and power grids in a modern-day recreation of the Silk Road.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said New Delhi should not let political problems deter it from joining the project, involving billions of dollars of investment, and benefiting from it.

Lavrov was speaking in the Indian capital after a three-way meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj at which, he said, India's reservations over the Chinese project were discussed.

"I know India has problems, we discussed it today, with the concept of One Belt and One Road, but the specific problem in this regard should not make everything else conditional to resolving political issues," he said.

Russia, all the countries in central Asia, and European nations had signed up to the Chinese project to boost economic cooperation, he said.

"Those are the facts," he said. "India, I am 100 percent convinced, has enough very smart diplomats and politicians to find a way which would allow you to benefit from this process."

The comments by Russia, India's former Cold War ally, reflected the differences within the trilateral grouping formed 15 years ago to challenge U.S.-led dominance of global affairs.


But substantial differences between India and China, mainly over long-standing border disputes, have snuffed out prospects of any real cooperation among the three.

India, in addition, has drawn closer to the United States in recent years, buying weapons worth billions of dollars to replace its largely Soviet-origin military.

Swaraj said the three countries had very productive talks on economic issues and the fight against terrorism.

(Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Copyright 2017 Thomson Reuters.

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/a...ine-up-behind-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative

 

[Dalit]

 

[Species]

So Shupa Powa finally getting instructions from actual Super Power.

 

[Valar.]

Dilemma for Supa Powa.

 

[Laozi]

So Shupa Powa finally getting instructions from actual Super Power.

So Shupa Powa finally begging to actual Super Power to use its influence

 

[cloud4000]

So Shupa Powa finally getting instructions from actual Super Power.

Since when is Russia a superpower?

Nevertheless, Russia can join OBOR if it wants to, but it shouldn't be lecturing India to do join it, nor is it in a position to do so.

 

[Species]

Since when is Russia a superpower?

Of course it is. You think we are still living in a uni-polar world?

 

[Gurjot.S]

So Shupa Powa finally getting instructions from actual Super Power.

That Shupa Powa played a crucial role in your birth process.

 

[Species]

That Shupa Powa played a crucial role in your birth process.

Hmm, this thought is one of the symptoms of Shupa Powa syndrome.

 

[SorryNotSorry]

Russia is a part of China’s OBOR, and India-Russia-Iran’s North South route- so it may use both in combination.
This is clearly China’s insecurity playing out

 

[Ajaxpaul]

Let the chinese build roads anywhere....Why do they need india ?

 

[Gurjot.S]

China urging Russia to use its influence over india.

 

[Kyusuibu Honbu]

Let the chinese build roads anywhere....Why do they need india ?

As per Chinese perception in Doklam standoff.

India got to decide whether China can build roads in Dokla, which is claimed as Chinese territory.

Hence, they probably believe they need India approval prior to deciding anywhere else on the planet where China decides to build road

 

[cloud4000]

Of course it is. You think we are still living in a uni-polar world?

Russia is not the Soviet Union, nor does it have the ability to take on US directly.

 

[navtrek]

As per Chinese perception in Doklam standoff.

India got to decide whether China can build roads in Dokla, which is claimed as Chinese territory.

Hence, they probably believe India should decide anywhere else on the planet where China decides to build road

lol good sarcasm bro you and i sort of think similar