China-India Collaboration on Global Economic Issues :

Strengthening South-South Bonding?

Abstract

During the last decade, China and India along with other emerging market economies have repeatedly assumed identical postures in international negotiations on major economic issues like trade and climate change. This paper reviews the reasons behind such posturing. Arguing that similar domestic concerns have led to common negotiating agendas, the paper interprets the Sino-Indian collaboration as an example of contemporary South-South cooperation between emerging market economies. While the collaboration is expected to continue in the foreseeable future, the paper warns against possible cracks surfacing within the South from the increasing economic gap between China and India and other developing countries, and distorted domestic perceptions on trade and climate preventing both countries from being more flexible in global negotiations. _____________________________