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

Speaking at the fourth General Bipin Rawat Memorial lecture in Delhi, Gen Dwivedi noted that New Delhi needed to look at the possibilities of Africa becoming the 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," he said while reflecting on the challenges the nation is facing in its abilities to impact major international decisions.

Dwivedi attributed the need to look at Africa as a power centre ...