India
STRATEGIC GAINS FROM PM MODI’S EAST ASIA VISIT
ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS, COUNTERBALANCING CHINA
2015-05-11 17:44
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China still remains a difficult neighbour for India to tackle. Apart from border dispute, the concerns over growing trade deficit with China and resolving the water issue of trans-boundary rivers, particularly Brahmaputra, remains as a formidable challenge. To offset the huge trade imbalance, India has sought more Chinese investments. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a six-day official tour of three East Asian countries – China, Mongolia and South Korea – from May 14 to garner investments for his ambitious Make in India programme. But apart from assurances on investments, what does he expects from China: possibly, Beijing’s nod for India’s membership in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) without the former insisting upon its membership in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).