New Delhi, March 16 -- Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday said the rise of China as a dominant economic and strategic force hampers India's effort to be the natural leader for the Global South.

He added that India needs to look at the possibilities of Africa as a future power centre.

"The rise of China as a dominant economic and strategic force adds complexity, creates competition, and hampers India's effort to be the natural leader for the Global South," Gen Dwivedi said while speaking at the fourth General Bipin Rawat Memorial Lecture in Delhi.

The Army Chief reflected on the challenges that India is facing in its ability to shape key international decisions.

"With the democratic shift and resource control race, we ...