Chinese unleash BRICS charm offensive

New Delhi, March 28 (IANS) The Chinese delegation has unleashed a charm offensive here with bagloads of information on their perspective on the BRICS grouping of Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa. In the Chinese president's words the grouping, is the "defender of the developing world".

The Chinese delegation, with logistical support from the Chinese embassy, has set up a media centre at Hotel Claridges which is also open to the Indian media.

The centre features focused power-point presentations and well-orchestrated briefings by senior Chinese officials and experts on the Chinese view of the BRICS as the ideal platform for promoting cooperation among emerging economies and developing countries.

Language is no bar, with suave interpreters quick to translate the views of Chinese officials into impeccable English.

At the briefings, the Chinese have pitched for internationalisation of local currencies of BRICS countries - a veiled reference to the reminbi's ambitions to emerge as an alternative to the US dollar - and pitched the five-nation grouping as an alternative to the West-dominated world order.

BRICS are major actors on the stage of the global economy, said Chen Yuan, chairman of the board of governors of China Development Bank.

More than 70 Chinese journalists are covering the 4th BRICS summit in New Delhi.

Encapsulating China's ambitions for BRICS and its own aspiration to emerge as a world power, Chinese President Hu Jintao said in an interview that BRICS countries are "the defender and promoter of the interests of developing countries."

With such soaring ambitions, the Chinese are not happy about the choice of the accommodation for the visiting president and his delegation at the Hotel Oberoi.

The hotel is too small for the delegation, said a Chinese official. Hu has brought in over 200-strong delegation to what is his last trip to India before he steps down later this year.

Besides, there are around 150 Chinese business leaders and officials who have come for the BRICS summit Thursday.