BackDon’t use Brics to label Pakistan a supporter of terrorism: Chinese media
Chinese media says Brics should not be used to settle bilateral disputes or isolate a country like Pakistan
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New Delhi: Ahead of the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, South Africa) summit over the weekend in Goa, Chinese state media has called the member nations to not use the multilateral forum to settle bilateral disputes and label a country as “supporter of terrorism".
Making an indirect reference to India and New Delhi’s attempt to isolate Pakistan internationally, Liu Zongyi writes in Global Times , “One of the key items at this year’s summit will be anti-terrorism. All BRICS members do not want to solve bilateral disputes through politicized multilateral platforms. As for the decades-long Kashmir issue, BRICS countries can only play a mediating role rather than support one side while isolating the other. They cannot simply label a country as ‘supporter of terrorism’."
The Chinese media also asked the member nations to forge consensus on Beijing’s proposal to push the free trade within the forum and again made veiled reference to India not keen about the idea.
In a different Op-Ed in Global Times, Hu Weijia says, “Observers have focused their eyes on New Delhi and have one question in mind: How much courage will it take for the trade ministers from BRICS countries gathering there on Thursday for the summit meeting to promote greater cooperation?."
The article further says that there is a lack of commitment from other countries despite China’s readiness to open up its domestic markets. “It seems China is willing to open up its domestic markets to the other four member countries, but they haven’t yet made quite the same commitment."
Beijing has shown the intent to create a free trade area, which would be a “significant form of cooperation" and has shown sincerity in reducing tariff barriers, but it has not been matched by other nations, the article says. “Some BRICS members are not in a hurry to consider a free trade area."
On India, Weija writes, With the “Make in India" campaign initiated by the Modi administration, India is in urgent need of exploring foreign markets to make itself a global manufacturing hub."
A delay in creating a free trade area due to an “overly cautious" approach about trade liberalization may cost businesses who may become “the victim of such conservative ideas".
In an another article, Song Guoyou, director of the Center for Economic Diplomacy at Fudan University, says, Brics nations will have a greater future if they overcome certain short-term difficulties.
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