Beijing, July 5 (IANS): Bangladesh hasn't benefitted "very significantly" from India's economic growth and New Delhi may need to place more focus on looking East, a leading Chinese daily said on Tuesday.

Commenting on Beijing's low-interest loans worth $9 billion to Dhaka, the Global Times said some analysts felt Bangladesh had become a focus for the growing geopolitical rivalry between China and India.

"In fairness, Bangladesh hasn't benefited very significantly from India's rapid economic growth," said an editorial in the Global Times, which is known to reflect the views of the Chinese leadership. 

"It seems the time has come for India to think about how to participate more actively in regional cooperation."

The daily said considering its geographic location, better infrastructure in Bangladesh would be a key step in achieving a corridor to link markets in India, China and Southeast Asia.

"However, this goal will be difficult to accomplish if India's involvement is absent," it said. 

"New Delhi may need to place more focus on looking East and participating in regional cooperation to connect South Asia, Southeast Asia and China together, forging a new economic belt."