China keeps a low profile

China may be one of the world8217;s biggest economies, but any question to a Chinese official on the developments at the current global tra...

China may be one of the world8217;s biggest economies, but any question to a Chinese official on the developments at the current global trade talks in Hong Kong will be met with a stony silence.

But analysts say this silence is understandable. 8220;They do not want to antagonize the big players like the US and Europe to which they are exporting the maximum,8217;8217; says economist Siddhartha Roy. 8220;But at the same time, they want all the concessions which the developing world is demanding in the current round,8217;8217; he adds.

Indian commerce minister Kamal Nath agrees. 8220;In almost all the matters relating to the developing world, China is supporting us,8217;8217; he says.

China8217;s strategy, incidentally, at the World Trade Organisation talks is exactly the opposite of India8217;s. While India and Brazil have taken an aggressive stance and are quoted widely in the international media, China has been keeping a low-profile 8212; it is yet to address a single news conference at the Hong Kong talks.

Incidentally, it is officials from the Indian delegation who give details about the Chinese stance in the negotiations than the Chinese themselves. And if Indian delegates having access to the Green Room where the big daddies usually negotiate are to be believed, China supports India in almost all the key demands made by them in terms of agriculture, market access and services sector.

Rather than taking a hardline posture during the meeting, the 100-strong Chinese delegation, led by its commerce minister Bo Xilai, prefers to take a stand which basically goes in this form: the WTO talks should not divide the developed and developing worlds further.

8220;China is highly interested in this trade talk reaching somewhere,8217;8217; says an analyst.

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8220;It will be the biggest beneficiary from both sides. Besides, it is taking a lot of interest in bilateral talks between governments,8217;8217; he adds.

With 100 billion as trade surplus expected this year, China is today one of world biggest players in the global trade, along with Europe and the US. As there is so much of stake in the current round for China to keep its economic momentum intact, it is therefore not surprising to find the Chinese delegation keeping mum.

In the past, the US and EU had criticised China on some details of the implementation of its WTO commitments, especially on intellectual property rights. Besides, this summer8217;s textile row with Europe is still fresh in the minds of Chinese officials.

With the developed world putting more pressure on China 8212; which became a WTO member in 2001 and since then has implemented some far-reaching steps on opening up its markets further 8212; small wonder that China prefers to keep a wait and watch strategy.