Qingdao
India was the only country in eight countries' Shanghai Corporation Organization (SCO) which did not support the China's ambitious One Belt One Road (OBOR) project. China has tied up with 80 countries and international organizations for this project.
The declaration issued on the end of the two-day conference of SCO said that Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan have confirmed their support to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
.
The declaration stated that member countries expressed happiness over the joint efforts made in the direction of the implementation of the BRI, including the development of the Eurasian Economic Union. In addition to the use of the capacity of regional countries, international organizations and multilateral associations, it was also told to develop a comprehensive, open, mutually beneficial and equal partnership in the space of SCO.
India is opposing OBOR
In an indirect note on China's 'One Area One Road' (OBOR) project, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the sovereignty and integrity of member countries should be respected in a major contact facility project. At the same time, he assured that for all initiatives to ensure inclusive, India will get full support. It is notable that India has continued to strongly oppose the OBOR. That's because a part of this ambitious project of China's President Xi Chunfing, the $ 50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passes through Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
India has said that it can not accept any project which ignores its main concern on sovereignty and territorial integrity. China had outlined this project in 2013, which aims to connect Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Gulf region, Africa and Europe to the network of roads and oceans. Shi Xinfing has already said that China can invest $ 126 billion in this project.
Many countries doubt China's intention
Although many countries are anticipating that China is trying to increase its impact globally on the pretext of this project. According to Chinese officials, nearly 80 countries and international organizations have already reached agreement with Beijing for this project. In the presence of Shi Chinfing, PM Modi said in his address that India is involved in the International North-South Transport Corridor project along with Chabahar port and Ashgabad (Turkmenistan) agreement.
It is notable that the International North-South Transport Corridor is a 7,200 km long project passing through many countries. This project connects India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe into a freight corridor. The Ashgabat agreement is an agreement to expand and invest in transportation facilities between many Gulf and Central Asian countries.
PM Modi said that "connectivity with neighboring countries is India's priority." In the context of the OBOR, Modi said, "India welcomes every such project which is inclusive, strong and transparent, and who respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member countries."