'Intl ties have become more about mutuality, collectivism'

Emphasising that India has always stood for intellectual and economic engagement through peaceful co-existence, BJP national vice president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe today said international relations have become more about "mutuality and collectivism" in the changing world.
"Recent initiatives by India or supported by India are a testimony to our approach towards this evolution of common approach for a shared prosperity. We understand that our economic development needs secure environment, peaceful neighbourhood and an open and stable trading system," said Sahasrabuddhe.
He was addressing an International Conference of Asian political parties special conference on Silk Route here.
According to a statement released by the BJP, he further said India's approach is determined by the imperatives of the globalised world, which is also rooted in its inheritance of a timeless tradition of intellectual and economic engagement through peaceful co-existence.

"In the changing world, international relations have become more about mutuality and collectivism.
"Our stand on UN reforms also emanates from this realisation that unless bodies like UN recognise the ground transformations, functioning of such bodies may remain confined to only symbolic importance," he said.

At the same time, any new initiative with international ramifications also require a structured process of evolution, democratic decision-making and an uncompromisingly participative approach at every level, Sahasrabuddhe added.
Referring to 'One Belt and One Road' (OBOR), the BJP vice president said that the involvement of multiple stakeholders at every level is a must for its seamless implementation.

The OBOR project involves the revival of the ancient Silk Road connecting China and Europe through the Central Asia, construction of the Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and 21st century Maritime Silk Road (MSR), connecting different ports in the neighbourhood.
The ambitious initiative involving billions of dollars in investment was mooted by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.
India has already made it clear that it views OBOR as the one designed by Beijing in pursuit of its own strategic objectives, but not as an inclusive one in which opinions of other "interested or affected" countries had not been taken into account.

"Multi dimensional, mega projects involving dozens of countries and millions of people require that not just the governments but people at large in respective nations take the ownership of the concept behind such projects.
"Cultivating a sense of ownership in the minds of people towards such projects, we believe; is an indisputable pre- requisite," Sahasrabuddhe said.