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New Delhi, October 9
India might obtain a piece of the Euro 300 billion fund introduced by the European Union (EU) beneath its Global Gateway scheme geared toward increasing connectivity together with within the Indo-Pacific area, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain mentioned.
Announced in December final 12 months, the large international funding plan for connectivity initiatives the world over is seen as a counter to China’s formidable Belt and Road Initiative which is commonly criticised for its “predatory loans”.
“It is massive. The total funding for this project is 300 billion Euros. I am confident that the Indo-Pacific and India could receive a chunk of it,” Lenain informed PTI.
The EU projected the ‘Global Gateway’ as an initiative primarily based on the ideas of fine governance together with transparency, monetary and financial sustainability, honest competitors and using multilateral instruments.
On China’s rising assertiveness within the Indo-Pacific, he mentioned Paris doesn’t need to be “confrontational” however prefers to be “efficient” whereas highlighting the strategic convergence between India and France for the area.
“There is total convergence. There is no issue with that. France witnessed the same assertivity of China in this region and we are really committed,” he informed PTI about similarities of views between India and France on the strategy in the direction of the Indo-Pacific.
There have been rising international issues over China’s rising army muscle-flexing within the Indo-Pacific and India is among the many main powers which were pushing for guaranteeing rule of regulation and prosperity for all stakeholders within the area.
Delving into numerous challenges going through the Indo-Pacific, Lenain additionally mentioned that there’s a want to supply an “alternative to the Chinese model”.
“We feel that we are India’s neighbour: we are a resident power of the Indo-Pacific. We have territories in this region, we have people in the region, almost 2 million French citizens, and we have troops,” Lenain mentioned.
“So we are totally committed. We have a strategy that was spelt out in the same year as India did in 2018. We have the same view of what should be done,” he mentioned.
The ambassador mentioned France prefers a complete technique to deal with the problem.
“We do not want to be confrontational; we want to be efficient. Obviously, there is a security aspect. We work together (with India) on maritime security, we do joint patrolling, we do intelligence sharing,” he mentioned.
“But that’s not all. We also need to provide an alternative to the Chinese model. The countries (of the region) want to develop and we want to allow them to develop in a sustainable, green and transparent manner.
“That’s what we are doing. We work together on connectivity, health and climate issues. And we want to do even more with India,” he mentioned.
The French envoy additionally highlighted the 27-nation European Union’s technique for the Indo-Pacific which was unveiled final 12 months.
“The EU last year adopted an Indo-Pacific strategy. It is massive and impressive. As it is always with the EU you do not see it right away, but you will feel it over the years and it will yield huge results because it is backed by all the power of the EU and all the funds of the EU,” Lenain mentioned.
“In this package, there is an initiative called Global Gateway which is an initiative to fund connectivity projects,” he mentioned.
In a big transfer, India and France final month agreed to arrange a framework to roll out growth initiatives following talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his counterpart Catherine Colonna.
“During the visit of our foreign minister last month, it was announced that our two countries are launching a joint Fund to promote initiatives in the Indo-Pacific area by companies in line with these goals,” Lenain mentioned.
The ambassador described it as a “very important” transfer at the same time as he talked in regards to the French coverage for the area that was unveiled in 2018.
“We have a strategy that was spelt out in the same year as India did in 2018. We have the same view of what should be done. It means we want a comprehensive strategy to tackle the challenge. We do not want to be confrontational; we want to be efficient,” he underscored.
New Delhi can also be engaged with Paris for cooperation within the Indo-Pacific beneath the India-France-Australia trilateral.
India has additionally been pushing for a free and inclusive Indo-Pacific beneath the framework of the Quad or Quadrilateral Coalition.
The Quad includes India, the US, Australia and Japan.
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