 "‘China’s Belt and Road Initiative is a political tool to dominate regions of the world’: Piyush Goyal")
In an apparent jibe at China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said that the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) respects sovereignty and is not a political tool trying to dominate others.
Addressing the IMEC conclave 2025 in the national capital on April 16, he said, “Good part of the IMEC is that it respects sovereignty and is not trying to foist one idea on other. It’s not trying to create an economic union. It’s not trying to dominate any of the region, something which the Belt and Road Initiative is now being recognised as becoming a political tool to try and dominate certain regions and their economic future.”
He said IMEC is supposed to be a partnership amongst all the nations, respecting each other’s sovereignty, our territorial integrity and also focusing largely promoting inclusive growth, sustainable growth.
“The IMEC would help promote trade, seamless movement of goods and people and cut down logistics costs,” he added.
IMEC is a major infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe through a network of roads, railways, and shipping routes. The corridor is expected to benefit India, Saudi Arabia, the US, and Europe.
IMEC is divided into two sections: the East Corridor, linking India with the Arabian Gulf, and the Northern Corridor, connecting the Gulf to Europe. The project was launched on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, with an agreement signed by India, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, the US, and other G20 partners.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsChina’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a large-scale connectivity project linking China with Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Russia, and Europe. India has consistently opposed the BRI, criticising it as a “debt-trap” strategy and expressing concerns over sovereignty violations.
A key point of contention is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a BRI project that passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a region claimed by India.
New Delhi has emphasised that connectivity initiatives should respect national sovereignty, adhere to international norms, and follow principles of transparency, good governance, and financial sustainability.
With inputs from agencies
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