Reports  from China state that they do not want to overstep into India’s sphere of influence by bringing Sri Lanka and Maldives into the maritime New Silk Road.

Deputy Director General of Policy Research Office at the CPC Central Committee’s International Department Luan Jianzhang has told The New Indian Express that “We don’t want to get into India’s sphere,” said,.

Luan, who is currently on a visit to India to take part in an international two-day conference, has pointed out that the ‘Maritime Silk Road’ initiative “was a strategic economic project”. He had denied that there was any security elements for now.

During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Sri Lanka and Maldives, both countries had given their support to the New Silk Road initiative, which has been described as a project to revive ancient trading links and increase economic cooperation.

This had raised eyebrows in India, which has been watching China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean Region with wariness.

When asked about India’s role in the Silk Road initiative, Luan has pointed out that New Delhi is part of the BCIM corridor, which looks at setting up a trade route from North-East India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China.