Neutrality and balance — Colombo’s habitual vocabulary — have yielded little economic benefit. Ultimately, Sri Lanka slid into bankruptcy. Given this background, the land link is not merely a strategic starting point but a necessity. India’s strategic position on Sri Lanka is perennial; whether the bridge is built or not, India’s concerns remain fundamental. As an immediate neighbour and rising global power, India will not allow rivals to use Sri Lanka as a base.
If India and China choose collaboration by setting aside strategic suspicion in the climate domain, they could fundamentally reshape the trajectory of the 21st century, as they have already demonstrated individually through their pursuit of clean energy over the past decade. More importantly, such a coalition could revive the COP28 fossil-fuel phase-down pledge, which stalled at COP29 in Baku and appears to be drifting further at COP30 in Belém.
Increased industrial activity in India could generate demand for raw materials, intermediate goods, and services from countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh’s textile industry could strengthen its links with Indian manufacturing networks, while Sri Lanka may gain from expanded opportunities in tourism, logistics, and services.
ADB’s role has evolved beyond financing into shaping India’s structural transformation into a high-growth, technology-driven, and climate-conscious economy. Compared to other multilateral institutions, it offers a more agile, implementation-focused, and regionally attuned approach. As India moves toward becoming one of the world’s largest economies, this partnership will play a defining role in shaping not only India’s growth trajectory but also the broader economic future of Asia.
Expressing concern over Pakistan’s growing debt, China has shown reluctance to approve USD 6 billion loan for the Mainline-I (ML-I) railway track -- the single largest project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor -- according to the record of a meeting and senior Pakistani officials, Express Tribune reported
The first batch of a Chinese made Covid 19 vaccine being processed in Pakistan would be available for use by May end, a senior Minister said
Pakistan's deep bond with China also costs its wildlife species
Authorities in Pakistan have awarded a hydropower extension project worth $354 million to a Chinese firm, reported Dawn
A top US lawmaker has welcomed India's decision to not allow Chinese telecom companies to conduct 5G trials in the nation, a move seen as a strong message sent to Beijing by New Delhi
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, and Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne met in London for the first India-France-Australia Trilateral Ministerial Dialogue on 4 May on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting where they once again reiterated the commitment to advance shared values and working together to achieve a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific
In a bid to preempt any possibility of raising power tariff, Pakistan will seek debt restructuring of USD 3 billion against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) energy projects, a top official said
Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, will visit Sri Lanka next month, Daily Mirror reported
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday interacted with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and discussed the importance of supply chains and air flights being kept open in the current scenario when India is witnessing massive rise in COVID-19 cases, officials said
Geopolitical analyst Fabien Baussart feels that China's military modernization is a threat to global security
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a message of condolences to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the COVID-19 pandemic in the country
Bangladesh will ink a contract soon to import the coronavirus vaccine made by China’s Sinopharm, a senior minister said
Visiting Chinese Minister of Defence General Wei Fenghe held discussions on strengthening bilateral ties and tourism with Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa
China was keen to help Bangladesh in tackling the COVID-19 outbreak and would continue its strategic cooperation in the development of the South Asian nation’s armed forces, according to BSS
With a crisis-gripped India failing to provide its committed vaccines to neighbors in South Asia, the region seems to be turning towards China for broader pandemic response support
