Beijing: China on Monday dismissed India’s concerns over its Belt and Road initiative, saying the mega venture has broad international support and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, which is a part of it, will not affect Beijing’s stand on Kashmir. Reacting to India’s reservations over the CPEC, a flagship project of China’s prestigious One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, the Chinese foreign ministry said over 100 countries and organisations were already involved in the venture. India skipped the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) due to its sovereignty concerns over the $50 billion CPEC, which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Chinese foreign ministry, however, was silent on India’s boycott of the Belt and Road Forum that ended on Monday. The Chinese foreign ministry’s assertions come a day after India boycotted China’s high-profile BRF, taking its protest over the CPEC to a new level.

Source: Mint May 15, 2017 12:11 UTC