The Union Minister of State for External Affairs, General (Retd.) V.K. Singh, currently on a visit to China, has brushed aside apprehensions that the attack in Manipur by militants based in Myanmar that killed 18 Indian troops would hamper progress of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor.
“Once the corridor comes up, I am quite sure that things will be taken care of. We are committed to improving connectivity as part of our Act East policy. Where the incidents took place, I am quite sure that security agencies and the Ministry of Home will take care of them,” Mr. Singh observed.
The Minister’s remarks signalled a shift in India’s position from a passive to an active supporter of the BCIM corridor, powered by the Chinese province of Yunnan and West Bengal.
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Asked if the growing consolidation of New Delhi-Dhaka ties, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh last week, could encourage stronger economic ties between Kolkata and Dhaka within the BCIM framework, India’s Ambassador to China Ashok Kantha, who was present at the press conference, said India was awaiting recommendations of a four-nation composite group in order to take a call.
“The Joint Study Group (JSG) of the four countries would suggest modalities. Once the JSG recommendations were received, they would be considered by the two governments,” he observed.
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Diplomatic sources told The Hindu that reputable individuals with experience in industry and the region, academics and members of the foreign ministries of the four countries were part of the JSG.
Mr. Singh said the India-China ties were now being driven by a new set of fundamentals. “Our Prime Minister and the leadership in China have had deep discussion and it has been decided that we must upgrade our relationship. Now to upgrade that relationship, economic linkages, trade and commerce are the most important issues. That is why they are being focussed on. Along with this is people-to-people contact. I am pretty sure that these will provide the conducive environment to tackle any problems that exist.”
Hoping to spur economic ties, Yunnan and West Bengal — the two engines of the BCIM project —are focussing on real estate development, food processing and manufacturing as the core areas of collaboration. “West Bengal has plans to build 22 townships worth Rs. 67,000 crore. These are massive intelligent townships, for which China has built similar townships already. Several [Chinese] companies in the construction sector have expressed interest in complete townships,” said West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra in a conversation with The Hindu .
The Minister pointed out that West Bengal could meet China’s requirement for the development of a full-fledged industrial zone in the State. “When they said they are looking to take up an industrial zone, we had 4,000 acres ready in our industrial parks. Another 3,000 acres are getting ready with full infrastructure. In fact, there is one park of 1,000 acres getting ready. We are ready to give one to a Chinese company completely. In fact, their team visited one of these parks in Kharagpur,” Dr. Mitra said.