China willing to strengthen communication with India

NEW DELHI - China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with India to link its "Belt and Road" initiatives with the latter's "Space Route" and "Mausam" project, said the Chinese envoy to India on Wednesday.

In an interview with the Indian newspaper The Hindu, Chinese Ambassador to India Le Yucheng said India enjoys a unique geographical location, and is a significant country along the ancient silk roads and space route, and is situated at the crossing point of the contemporary "Belt and Road" initiatives of China.

He said last year, India became one of the first prospective founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) , and hosted the second chief negotiators' meeting in Mumbai in January this year.

India will also host the third meeting of the Bangladesh-China- India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor Joint Working Group in Kolkata later this year, he pointed out.

"All these reflect the cooperative attitude of Indian to the 'Belt and Road' initiatives," he said.

The Mausam project is inspired by India's historical role as the focal point for trade in the Indian Ocean, and is aimed at allowing India to reestablish its ties with its ancient trade partners.