China frames draft of Inter Govt Mechanism for BCIM

China has made the draft of 'Inter-Government Co-operation Mechanism' before the third meeting of Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor Joint Study Group in Kolkata on Tuesday. The ultimate objective of such joint study is to set up proposed BCIM Corridor through those countries.

"China has made the draft of Inter-Government Co-operation Mechanism. But it was not tabled before the members of Joint Study Group. The Chinese delegation is probably waiting for the opinion of other members of Joint Study Group on the issue of setting up BCIM Corridor," a source close to the development said.

The members of the Joint Study Group and representatives from various stakeholders, research institutes, and business enterprises attended the meeting on Tuesday. The meeting will continue until Wednesday.

The four countries agreed to establish this Joint Study Group on strengthening connectivity in the BCIM region for closer economic, trade and people-to-people linkage through the development of BCIM Corridor in 2013.

"The first meeting of the BCIM Economic Corridor Joint Study Group was held in Kunming, in China in 2013, the second meeting took place in Cox's bazaar, Bangladesh in 2014. India has participated in two rounds of JSG meeting in 2013 and 2014," the source said.

"China may request the other nations to start the process on setting up of BCIM Corridor. Chinese representatives, from National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China Development Bank, Chinese transport ministry and foreign affairs office, ministry of renewal energy, ministry of commerce and other members were present in the meeting," the source further added.

However, the Bangladesh delegation led by High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka M. Riaz Hamidullah said, integration and connectivity in the region will play a significant role in strengthening cooperation among these countries to achieve development objective.

The former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Rajeet Mitter, who headed Indian delegation in Joint Study Group, said the group made a good progress as the respective countries already finalized and circulated reports. India considers BCIM as an important instrument for its Act East Policy, he added.