China to Link Maritime Silk Road with India's 'Mausam'
China has expressed its readiness to work with India to link its ambitious Maritime Silk Road plans with India's 'Mausam' project in a bid to address New Delhi's strategic concerns and derive "common benefits", reports PTI.
Ever since the "One Belt and One Road" initiative to revive the ancient Silk Road and Maritime Silk Roads (MSR) was mapped out by Chinese President Xi Jinping, India has been showing vacillation and hesitations over whether to join the project. The scheme has different facets, though the main objective is clearly for China to take the leadership of Asia.
The Mausam project aimed at re-establishing India's ancient maritime routes with its ancient trade partners in and along the Indian Ocean, was launched in June 2014. India wants to achieve a dominant strategic role in the Indian Ocean and protect its interests in the area. Both the Mausam project and the Spice Route are part of the maritime strategy. (Mausam = weather)
China's Ambassador to India Le Yucheng's said that China wants to have communication with India to link the 'Belt and Road' initiatives with New Delhi's 'Spice Route' and 'Mausam' projects.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying stated: "China is ready to work with South Asian countries, including India, Sri Lanka, to strengthen policy communication, identify the meeting point of their development strategies, explore effective ways of mutually beneficial cooperation and common benefit of the region, countries and the people."
During last year's Defence Dialogue, the two sides discussed prospects of joint naval exercises in addition to the 'Hand in Hand' exercises being held annually between the two armies to promote military-to-military relations.
Defence Secretary R K Mathur will lead the Indian defence delegation at the talks due to be held here on April 8-9 during which the two countries would discuss a wide range of measures to step up cooperation between army, navy and air force of the two countries.
