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India monitoring China build-up in neighbourhood: Khurshid
India is keeping an eye on strategic rival China’s involvement in infrastructure projects in India’s immediate neighbourhood, external affairs minister Salman Khurshid said in Parliament on Wednesday.The countries where China is engaged in include Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives and Pakistan, the minister said.
“The government is aware that China is involved in the construction of or assistance to infrastructure projects in our neighbourhood including in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar; hydroelectric and IT projects in Nepal; IT and housing construction projects in Maldives; hydroelectric & nuclear projects, highways, motorways, export processing zones and economic corridors in Pakistan,” the minister said in a statement to Parliament, the text of which was made available on a government website.
“The government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India’s security and takes all necessary measures to safeguard it. India is an active development partner of its neighbours and is involved in various projects in these countries,” the minister said referring to worries expressed by many quarters in India that China is increasing its influence in countries seen as within India’s traditional sphere of influence.
“India’s relations with other countries stand on their own footing and are independent of the relations of those countries with third countries,” the minister said.
South Asia accounted for about 70% of India’s total commitments under grant assistance in 2012-13, according to an Indian external affairs ministry official, who declined to be named. Besides grant assistance, India extends lines of credit and undertakes manpower training under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme. (Source: livemint)
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