Chongqing- Dr. Swaran Singh is Chairman at the Centre for International Politics, Organisation, and Disarmament at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. He has 25 years of experience in research, teaching, and lectures at major institutions like the National Defence College, Defence Services Staff College, Foreign Service Institute, and Indian Institute for Public Administration.

Dr. Singh has traveled and written extensively on Asian affairs and China's foreign and security policies. He has co-edited many publications, including On China By India: From Civilization to State, Emerging China: Prospects for Partnership in Asia, China-Pakistan Strategic Cooperation: Indian Perspectives, China-India Economic Engagement: Building Mutual Confidence, and China's Changing National Security Doctrines.

As the sixth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) takes place in Beijing, iChongqing held an inclusive interview with Dr. Singh where he describes the significance of the plenum and the economic miracle that saw China recently generate 100 trillion yuan in GDP. As the largest and most long-standing communist party in the world, China is now entering the third era as an emerging developed nation that plays a vital role in international affairs.

China has endeavored to promote the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) over the past few years, Dr. Singh explains how India has in practice been a selective partner through international agencies facilitating the BRI.

In his upcoming new book entitled 'India’s Selective Participation in China’s Belt & Road Initiative,' Dr. Singh points out that India has been a selective partner in all the enabling agencies that are expected to finance and facilitate BRI projects.

Other than being the second-largest stakeholder in China's Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as also being a founding member of BRICS New Development Bank and Contingent Reserve Arrangements, India has also become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation which has repeatedly praised and endorsed China's BRI.

Finally, as the 14th Five-Year Plan details the strategic deployments in the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, Dr. Singh points out the western region of China, home to more than 400 million people, has traditionally lagged behind regions like the east coast in terms of unequal development. However, the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle has become a growth pole that will make the region competitive with Beijing-Tianjin-Heibei, as well as the Yangtze and Pearl River Delta regions.