China's Belt & Road Initiative: How Can India Respond?

The BRI is hailed as the most important infrastructure project of the 21st century. The Belt and Road Forum in May, 2017 was attended by participants from around 130 nations, along with 29 heads of states. Despite US and other powers registering their presence, India decided to not to be present. However India cannot afford to ignore the project. There is a need to develop a coherent policy response. Going ahead how can India respond to BRI? This paper explores the various obstacles that India and China will have to overcome to cooperate and attempts to chart a course for India to ensure national interest as well as security, peace and economic development in the region.