BCIM mechanism Dhaka for finalising by next year as China, India take conflicting stances

Bangladesh on Wednesday stressed the need for taking a decision within one year on upgrading BCIM from a joint study group to an inter-governmental mechanism, while China and India took opposite positions about finalising an operational mechanism for the sub-regional group. 
China on Wednesday stressed the need for an inter-governmental framework that should be finalised for BCIM without delay as a decision was taken in this regard about 28 months ago.
India, on the other hand, was insisting that finalising the mechanism might not be appropriate as a study planned for it was not completed, and the BCIM members should also be mindful about domestic compulsions in their respective countries. 
Delegates discussed, among other issues, on taking the BCIM dialogue from Track I (official diplomacy) to the inter-governmental level, in a two-day meeting that ended in Kolkata on Wednesday. 
A decision was made to make a final report to be placed in the next meeting of the group in Myanmar by early next year about BCIM mechanism, Bangladesh delegation head Riaz Hamidullah, who is also Bangladesh high commissioner to Sri Lanka, told New Age on Wednesday. 
‘It was decided in the second conference (held in Bangladesh in December 2014) that mechanism modalities of an inter-governmental framework agreement will be worked out on the basis of reports by all BCIM countries,’ said Chinese delegation head Wang Xiaotao, according to The Hindu.
India’s external affairs ministry additional secretary A. Gitesh Sarma, however, believe that upgrading the joint study group dialogue to the inter-governmental level is easier said than done.
‘… Even as we explore greater connectivity between BCIM countries, we should be mindful of different domestic circumstances and developmental aspirations in our respective countries. While forging ahead on our respective developmental paths our four countries [are] at present at different levels of developments and this should be an important consideration while we engage in mutually beneficial areas for cooperation,’ Sarma said.
Former Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh Rajeet Mitter was leading the delegation of the host country. 
Bangladesh–China–India–Myanmar Forum for Regional Cooperation (BCIM) is a sub-regional organisation aimed at greater integration of trade and investment between the four countries.
Member countries submitted four separate reports involving 11 sectors, including sustainable development, connectivity, investment, finance, energy and human resource development, for consideration of the governments.

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