BEIJING – China said on Saturday that Beijing will “not be too hard” on NewDelhi on the issue of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The BRI, a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by President Xi Jinpingwhen he came to power in 2013, has become a major sticking point in thebilateral ties. The BRI also includes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC) which India opposes as it goes through Azad Kashmir.

At the end of the two-day informal summit between Prime Minister NarendraModi and President Xi in the central Chinese city, Chinese vice foreignminister Kong Xuanyou said, “We feel that there is no fundamentaldifference between China and India on the issue of supportinginter-connectivity.”

“The Indian side does not exclude this cooperation. It is also continuingto advance on interconnection. India is also a founding member of the AsianInfrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). It is the second largest shareholderof our region,” Kong said.

“As for whether India accepts the expression Belt and Road, I think it isnot important and China will not be too hard on it,” he said.

India had boycotted last year’s Belt and Road Forum organised by China.

The BRI, a pet initiative of President Xi, is aimed at promoting network ofroads, ports and rail networks all over the world to spread China’sinfluence.