SL should do more for social, economic development

: Top Chinese scholar

- By Kelum Bandara

Senior Fellow and Director of Centre for South Asian Studies Prof. Liu Zongyi, in an interview with Daily Mirror, shared his views on the current regional developments, China - Sri Lanka relations. He is a leading Chinese scholar who heads this think-tank funded by the Chinese government and based in Shanghai, China. Excerpts:

There is a contradiction for the regional countries. They would like to get social and economic development. But, on the other hand, the governments of all the countries in this region cannot provide sufficient resources and capital for social and economic development.

India is the largest economy in the region, but India cannot provide sufficient funds and help other nations for economic development. India and other countries in the region are in competition with each other. That is because social and economic development levels in India and other countries are at the same level.

So, India would like to develop their own industries. Other countries also would like to develop their industries. So, there is a competition between India and other countries.

So, in South Asia, if smaller and major states want to get economic and social development, they need help. They need investment from outside the region. In the past decades, China has contributed a lot to social and economic development, especially through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

China has invested in the Colombo Port City, the Hambantota Port, and the Mattala International Airport Port. Those projects are not fully picking up. They are yet to bring dividends properly. Why does China invest in projects which don't yield sufficiently?

There are several reasons. India doesn't want China to invest too much in the region. India thinks South Asia is the backyard of Indiaits area of influence. They don't want other states and powers to invest too much in South Asia.