On Sunday, BRICS summit will start in Goa and the bilateral meeting between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, China on Friday cancelled its session at the BRICS Business Forum 2016 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.
The BRICS Business Forum was due to start at 10.30 am and was cancelled as China was upset with trade barriers within BRICS. India is gearing up to strongly take up the issue of terrorism with China over the issue of Beijing’s opposition to a proposal that the UN ban Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. So India is miffed with China over the terrorism issue and Beijing has signalled that it is upset with New Delhi over trade barriers.
The China see India as a big market for their goods. But India is also expected to continue with its diplomatic offensive against Pakistan over terrorism when it plays host to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as the leaders of Brazil and South Africa and the Chinese President at the summit on Sunday.
PM Modi to also raise Pakistan, China economic corridor
China is keen to have a free trade area for BRICS. As per the report in Chinese media that by setting up a free trade area, the BRICS countries would be able to remove non-tariff and tariff barriers, give play to their comparative advance , and advantages trade and investment liberalisation between them.
But, India is not keen to give duty-free access to Chinese products in its market. Recently, India imposed duties on steel coming from China.
The continued opposition of China to a proposed UN ban on Pakistan-based JeM’s chief Masood Azhar and Beijing blocking the NSG membership of India attempt are expected to dominate the bilateral talks between visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi that are likely to take place in Goa on Saturday ahead of the summit.
The objection of India to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), that will pass through PoK which is disputed area, and the reports of China blocking a tributary of the Brahmaputra in Tibet as part of the construction of its most expensive hydro-power project are among the other issues that Mr Modi is likely to raise up with the top Chinese leader.
