Shun 'strategic anxiety' over rising China: Beijing tells India

The Chinese state-run media on Sunday urged India to shun its concerns and "strategic anxiety " over a rising China and instead of being rivals, assess the benefits of 'One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative and seize the opportunities to become cooperative partners.

"Concerns over a rising China have, to some extent, spiraled into a kind of strategic anxiety regarding the country among some Indian politicians. Their misleading, unfound China-phobia, however, might lead to strategic myopia and hurt India's own interests," Xinhua news agency said in a commentary.

The commentary said "while the Indian decision to boycott the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative may be understandable, "staying away is not the best choice New Delhi could have made".

Terming that India is hurting its own interests by not taking part in it as the 'One Belt and Road' (OBOR) is not a "Chinese project." It is a multilateral initiative, with win-win results at its core.

"It could have voiced its concerns and opinions on public occasions or in official statements as China is always willing to discuss all problems and possibilities with India on the basis of mutual benefits.The Belt and Road provides a monumental opportunity for the win-win cooperation between India and China, which are quite complementary economically," it said.

The editorial said, "India, due to its geographical location and the size of its economy, could potentially be the biggest recipient of Chinese investment from the initiative to boost trade by building infrastructure linking Asia with Europe, the Middle East and Africa."

"While bearing in mind its sovereignty concerns, the Indian government should see the bigger picture: the initiative will benefit South Asian countries, it is in India's own vital and long-term national interests to join the initiative and become an important player in it," it stated.

-ANI