Close X
Friday, November 29, 2024
ADVT 
International

India must decide on joining APEC: Chinese daily

Darpan News Desk IANS, 17 Nov, 2014 10:18 AM
It is high time India took a decision on joining the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) after having declined to attend the bloc's annual summit in Beijing earlier this month despite being invited by host China, a leading Chinese daily has said.
 
"India's refusal to attend the APEC meeting confuses observers on two further fronts. First, APEC is a not-to-be-missed opportunity for the Modi government to garner support among APEC members and display Modi's resolve in building up a new image of India for stronger economic integration into the world trade system," said an opinion piece headlined "It’s crunch time for India: Integration into or isolation from APEC?” in the Global Times English daily.
 
“Second, India has been pursuing APEC membership for two decades. India has secured vocal support from the US, Japan and Australia. China's support can significantly amplify its chances and expedite the process.”
 
APEC is a forum comprising 21 Pacific rim member economies.
 
According to the article, India would not be bound by any obligations but only stood to gain by joining this economic bloc.
 
“India is not an APEC member and thus attending the meeting does not bind it to any formal obligations, especially so when considering that APEC is not a binding forum.” the writer, Xie Chao, a PhD candidate at Tsinghua University's department of international studies, stated.
 
“Compared with APEC, the World Trade Organization (WTO) puts more binding institutions on its members and India has used its WTO membership to drive its initiatives and protect its core interests,” it added, pointing as an example India's recent blocking of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement to preserve its domestic farm subsidy system.
 
According to the article, India is a strong candidate for entry into APEC but “its recent moves regarding WTO negotiations and declining this APEC meeting invitation present us with an India in contradiction”.
 
“An India with stronger confidence and closer integration into the regional economy will benefit all sides,” it stated. 
 
“China has realised this and as some observers have pointed out, the invitation (by Chinese President Xi Jinping) itself is an implicit Chinese endorsement of membership,” the writer observed. 
 
“So now comes India's choice: to integrate with or isolate itself from APEC?”
 
The greatest benefit from APEC, the article stated, was in it “being a mature regional economic forum bringing the North and South countries together to promote multinational trade and investment facilitation agendas”.
 
“Hence, India's economic reform and development could certainly benefit from APEC institutions for broader contact with other Asia-Pacific countries. Its relatively isolated economy can find better ways to integrate into world trade systems.”
 
The 2014 APEC Summit was held in Beijing Nov 10-11. Apart from India, President Xi also invited Pakistan and Mongolia as observers. The latter two attended.

MORE International ARTICLES

Australia struggles to prevent residents from joining IS

Australia struggles to prevent residents from joining IS
The Australian Federal Police have admitted they are struggling to deal with the exodus of young Australians leaving the country to fight for the Islamic State (IS)....

Australia struggles to prevent residents from joining IS

Cameron calls for removal of IS propaganda from internet

Cameron calls for removal of IS propaganda from internet
British Prime Minister David Cameron Friday called on governments and internet companies to do more to remove from the web the propaganda of the Islamic State (IS) Sunni radical organisation....

Cameron calls for removal of IS propaganda from internet

Malala Spreads Memoir To College, High School Classrooms With Free Online, Curriculum Guide

Malala Spreads Memoir To College, High School Classrooms With Free Online, Curriculum Guide
WASHINGTON — Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel Prize winner and global icon for girls' education, is spreading her philosophies of human rights and youth empowerment to college and high school classrooms across the world.

Malala Spreads Memoir To College, High School Classrooms With Free Online, Curriculum Guide

More U.S. Hospitals Are Providing Recommended Care For Common Conditions

More U.S. Hospitals Are Providing Recommended Care For Common Conditions
CHICAGO — More U.S. hospitals are giving patients the recommended treatments for common conditions, according to an annual report released Thursday by an independent accrediting group.

More U.S. Hospitals Are Providing Recommended Care For Common Conditions

Monsanto, Dow Chemical Unit Sue Maui County To Stop Law Passed By Voters That Bans GMO Growing

Monsanto, Dow Chemical Unit Sue Maui County To Stop Law Passed By Voters That Bans GMO Growing
HONOLULU — Two agricultural companies are suing Maui County to challenge a new law banning the cultivation of genetically modified organisms.

Monsanto, Dow Chemical Unit Sue Maui County To Stop Law Passed By Voters That Bans GMO Growing

Obama reiterates ASEAN investment, pledges to strengthen ties

Obama reiterates ASEAN investment, pledges to strengthen ties
US President Barrack Obama Thursday reiterated his country's investment in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and commitment...

Obama reiterates ASEAN investment, pledges to strengthen ties