India China Bullet Train Plan- BCIM Economic Corridor
UPSC PERSPECTIVE
Above topic is important for MAINS GENERAL STUDIES PAPER 2 under topic India and its Neighborhood- Relations.
Topic :
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
CHINESE CONSUL-GENERAL in Kolkata, Ma Zhanwu on September 12, 2018, announced that China is looking forward to plan bullet train Kolkata to Kunming City of China.
The train is expected to traverse through Myanmar and Bangladesh.
CHINESE CONSUL-GENERAL(Similar to CHINESE GOVERNER views)
CHINESE CONSUL-GENERAL solves the problem of people on the local level (state wise)-like visa issues etc.
CHINESE Embassy in New Delhi–solve problem on the national level.
THE PROPOSAL
2800 km -long high -speed rail link between Kunming(China) and Kolkata.
LACK OF CLARITY ON THE PROPOSAL
Chinese envoy has not revealed the exact information.
Envoy did not clarify whether this project falls under the One Belt, One Road initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping or will be a stand-alone initiative.
Earlier China wanted India to become a part of One Belt, One Road(OBOR), but India officials did not support this project.
If this bullet train project comes under One Belt, One Road(OBOR), then it will be a huge strategic win for China and strategic loss for the USA.
TIMINGS OF THIS PROJECT
Comes at a time when India wants Chinese investments in North-eastern states.
China gave a positive sign.
BANGLADESH- CHINA- INDIA- MYANMAR ( BCIM) ECONOMIC CORRIDOR
Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar ( BCIM) Economic Corridor is a multi-modal transport corridor with the aim to connect India ( Kolkata ) and China (Kunming) via Bangladesh (Dhaka) and Myanmar (Mandalay).
The idea was given a shape in the form of the BCIM forum in 1999 in the first ‘Kunming Initiative’, the capital of Chinese Yunnan province.
It is intended to advance multi-modal connectivity, promote investment and trade and facilitate people-to-people contacts through a combination of road, rail, water and air linkages in the region.
The multi-modal corridor will be the first expressway between India and China and will pass through Myanmar and Bangladesh.
IMPORTANCE OF BCIM
1.Economic potential for North-eastern states.
2. India and China can improve their relationships.
3.Massive Boost in tourism.
4.BCIM can not only be a game – changer for this region in Asia but is also pivotal for India’s “Act East”
5.BCIM can be a substitute CPEC.
Finally, this can be the reaction of China for COMCASA.
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