The 9th annual BRICS summit had just concluded in Xiamen in China recently.
How was the India – China Bonhomie?
By putting up a united front at the BRICS summit, and proposing a revival of the Panchsheel principles of peaceful cooperation, India & China displayed a strong willingness to strengthen cooperation.
The conference sent a clear message that both sides are willing to look beyond the recent Doklam military stand-off and solve future issues through negotiations and diplomacy.
There were also indications that new mechanisms to strengthen the border defence agreements are being considered.
China also chose not to speak of the contentious Belt and Road Initiative at the summit, respecting India’s concerns.
How was the overall consensus?
Member countries expressed their displeasure with the kind of economic protectionism that the US is now espousing.
They also asserted their commitment to an “open and inclusive” multilateral trading system.
North Korea was univocally condemned for its aggressive posturing by all members, while at the same time they advocated dialogue to resolve the crisis.
All member countries had endorsed the labelling of “Lashkar-e-Taiba” and the “Jaish-e-Mohammed” as terrorist groups threatening regional stability.
How does the future hold?
China & India must restart meetings of the Special Representatives, to speed up discussions on border disputes in Sikkim & the eastern sector.
Also, the BRICS view on terrorist groups like the LeT and JeM needs to be translated into actionable points.
UN Security Council’s meeting in October will see the issue of designating JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.
China’s stand at the ‘Security Council” will be closely watched as it had blocked previous such resolutions.
