India Sinks China's Attempt To Revive BRI At SCO Summit As Xi Jinping's Flagship Infra Project Falters Across The World

India on Tuesday (4 July) refused to sign the paragraph supporting China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the New Delhi declaration issued at the end of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders' summit.

Earlier too, India had declined to sign off on the paragraph during the Samarkand declaration in 2022.

The New Delhi declaration of 2023 included a paragraph reaffirming support for China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The paragraph reads, "Reaffirming their support for China's "Belt and Road Initiative" (BRI) initiative, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Russian Federation, Republic of Tajikistan and Republic of Uzbekistan note the ongoing work to jointly implement this project, including efforts to link the construction of the Eurasian Economic Union and BRI".

India's opposition to the BRI stems from its concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which it says infringes upon its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The Samarkand declaration of 2022 bears resemblance to the Delhi declaration in terms of its support for China's Belt and Road initiative (BRI), reports Indian Express.

Both declarations acknowledge the joint efforts of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in implementing this project.

India's opposition to Chinese President Xi Jinping's pet international infra project comes as China's BRI initiative, originally called 'One Belt, One Road', designed to boost its image and influence across the world, is faltering.

The barriers and delays created by sanctions imposed on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine have accelerated the collapse of China's BRI global strategy.

Post-pandemic, China’s Belt and Road initiative is a mess, hit by the double whammy of inflation and slowing growth across the world, especially denting lower-income countries.

Estimates suggest that over 60 per cent of the BRI loans are now to countries in critical debt crises, up from a mere 5 per cent in 2010.

Also Read: Post-Pandemic, China’s Belt And Road Initiative Is A Mess