India has expressed its strong opposition to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its flagship project, the so-called China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) at the just-concluded second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference in Beijing. Priyanka Sohoni, the first Secretary at the Indian Embassy in Beijing while stating India's position hit out at China's BRI where her mike surprisingly went silent precisely at the point when she was highlighting New Delhi's objection to the controversial projects. The conference was hosted by China in Beijing from 14th to 16th October under the aegis of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).<br />'' <br />'' The sudden "mike failure" at the UN conference 'hitherto going on smoothly', created a flutter and took several minutes to restore after which the Indian statement could be completed. Sohoni said that expansion and strengthening of physical connectivity is an integral part of India's economic and diplomatic initiatives. Expressing India's concerns on BRI, she said that India is uniquely affected by it. Its the inclusion of the so-called CPEC as a flagship project impinges on India's sovereignty," and "No country can support an initiative that ignores its core concerns of sovereignty and territorial integrity," she said.<br />'' <br />'' "This aside, there are also larger issues regarding how connectivity initiatives should be pursued. We are of the firm belief that connectivity initiatives must be based on universally recognised international norms. They must follow principles of openness, transparency and financial responsibility," Sohoni said. It was at this juncture that her microphone stopped working, making it impossible for Chinese and international delegates to hear her.<br />'' <br />'' The BRI is a multi-billion-dollar initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping when he came to power in 2013. The USD 60 billion CPEC, which connects Gwadar Port in Pakistan's Balochistan with China's Xinjiang province, is the flagship project of the BRI. India has been vocally objecting to China over the CPEC as it is being laid through the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).