India and China Engage in Parallel Diplomacy at the UN, Highlighting Rivalry for Developing World Leadership

Strategic Insights -

India and China, despite recent efforts to improve their ties, have continued to demonstrate a quiet rivalry for influence in the developing world, as evidenced by their separate meetings with Global South countries on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. Chinese Premier Li Qiang urged all countries to work together and called on the developed world to pay greater attention to the needs of developing nations, while India emphasized south-south trade and tech cooperation, advocating for diversified supply chains to avoid dependence on any single supplier or market. This parallel diplomacy highlights a persistent competition for leadership in the developing world.

Key Takeaways:

  • China's Global Development Initiative event at the UNGA on Tuesday was chaired by Premier Li Qiang, who announced that China would no longer claim special treatment reserved for developing countries in World Trade Organization negotiations.
  • India's event, led by Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, brought together representatives from over 20 countries and emphasized the importance of fair and transparent economic practices, south-south trade, and resilient supply chains.
  • India has maintained its aversion to China-led global and regional initiatives, including the Brics bloc, while also being a member of the Quad security dialogue with the U.S., Australia, and Japan.
  • China has announced plans to carry out 2,000 more small-scale livelihood projects in developing countries and continue funding the WTO's "China Program" to help the world's least developed countries join the global trading system.
  • The rivalry between India and China has been ongoing, with tensions emerging over the Brics bloc's planned expansion in 2024 and the Himalayan border dispute.
  • The two nations have shown no signs of abandoning their divergent views on economic practices and global governance.

Statistics:

  • Over 30 countries, including Pakistan, Iraq, Nigeria, and Angola, were represented at China's Global Development Initiative event.
  • China has announced plans to carry out 2,000 more small-scale livelihood projects in developing countries over the next five years.
  • The WTO's "China Program" has received continued funding from China to help the world's least developed countries join the global trading system.
  • India's event brought together representatives from over 20 countries, including Cuba, the Maldives, Nigeria, Indonesia, Singapore, and Jamaica.

Sources:

  • "China to drop developing-nation status in WTO talks" by Niles Williamson, Reuters, [https://www.reuters.com/world/china-drop-developing-nation-status-wto-talks-2024-09-24/](https://www.reuters.com/world/china-drop-developing-nation-status-wto-talks-2024-09-24/)
  • "India's Jaishankar says China's new initiative is a 'great opportunity'" by Manoj Kumar, Reuters, [https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-jaishankar-says-chinas-new-initiative-is-a-great-opportunity-2024-09-25/](https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-jaishankar-says-chinas-new-initiative-is-a-great-opportunity-2024-09-25/)