The BCIM Forum (Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar) has attempted to link the plans of the Chinese Government for the development of the South-Western backward Provinces, notably Yunnan, to India's “Look East Policy”.
Centuries ago Bengal, Northeast India, Myanmar and Yunnan were more integrated politically and economically than they are today.
After World War II territorial controversies and militancy on all the sides of the post-colonial borders have made it difficult for people and goods to move freely within this macro-region and have undermined political relations between the four countries. To revive landlocked areas that once used to bee linked by the southern Silk Route (which was called Stilwell Road during World War II),the so-called “Kunming Initiative” was signed in 1999.
After more than ten years, this project seems to be at a stage of a deadlock, mainly because of the recent cooling in India-China relations. It is possible however that the common interests in opening an overland itinerary between Kunming and Kolkata could renew the dialogue between the two countries.