NEW DELHI – China on Friday said it was “quite normal” for it to pushahead with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a sticking point inBeijing’s ties with India, but maintained that the two “major powers” couldfind a way to cooperate, especially after the Wuhan summit.
Addressing a seminar on ‘Wuhan Summit: Sino-India Relations and its WayForward’, China’s ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said the BRI wouldbenefit all countries, including India, in the age of globalisation.
The BRI, a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by President Xi Jinpingwhen he came to power in 2013, has become a major irritant in bilateralties. The BRI also includes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)which India opposes as it goes through Pakistani Kashmir.
India had also boycotted last year’s Belt and Road Forum organised by Chinain Beijing.
“We seek common development through connectivity,” Luo said as some Indianlawmakers, scholars and journalists raised the issue of the BRI during theseminar addressed by China’s envoy on the outcomes of the April 27-28informal summit between Chinese President Xi and Prime Minister NarendraModi.
He said it was “quite normal” for China to push for the BRI among countriesin the region, while describing India as a “major power” as well as anemerging market.
Luo also said that China wanted to share the fruits of its economicdevelopment with other countries and those like the US and the UK havebenefitted from China’s growth.