International conference on “Adjustments of India’s Look East Policy in the new context”

At the conference, representatives listened to speakers from the two countries presenting speeches that focus on 2 following major issues:

- Impacts of the new context and domestic factors of India’s Look East policy(*). Accordingly, Vietnam is an important pillar of the Look East policy in the background of that Vietnam and India lifted the relationship into “Strategic partnership”. Therefore, enhancement of regional connection is an important content in adjustment of the Look East policy  (the speeches by speakers of: Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc, Institute for European Studies, VASS; Dr. Srinivasan Mani, Director of Centre for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Madras, India).

- Coverage of impact and role of the Look East policy to the region and the world. Until now, the Look East policy has been implemented in almost areas including politics, foreign affairs, economy, culture, security - defense, starting from South Asia region to Southeast Asia, East Asia, Asia- Pacific, China, Indian Ocean, thereby contribution to lifting India’s position and role to organizations, economic, political and security forums in regions, promotion of peace, prosperity of the regions and the world (speeches by speakers of: Mr. Krishnan Srinivasan, former secretary, External affairs Ministry of India; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alka Acharya and Dr. Jabin T.Jacob, Institute for Chinese Studies, New Delhi, India; Dr. G. Jayachandra Reddy, Director of Centre for Southeast Asian and Pacific Studies, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati, India; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Duc Dinh, Institute of African and Middle East Studies; Dr. Vo Xuan Vinh, Institute for Southeast Asian Studies; MA. Huynh Thanh Loan, Institute for Indian and Southwest Asian Studies).

The conference received many discussions, exchanges of the representatives. In his closing speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr.

Ngo Xuan Binh, Director of Vietnam Institute for Indian and Southwest Asian Studies affirmed tight relationship and impact each other on political geography in Asia – Pacific region, and importance of India’s Look East policy. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Xuan Binh emphasized: Connection of trade  (on roads, marine, airlines) plays an importantly strategic role in linking India to countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia in order to enhance exchange of marines and airlines, and promote economic cooperation in the region. The speeches of speakers from the two countries presenting India’s Look East policy in the new context provide useful and valuable research information to scientists and policy-makers for promotion of Vietnam-India diplomatic relationship as consolidation and enhancement as time in the future.

At the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Xuan Binh, Director of Vietnam Institute for Indian and Southwest Asian Studies and Ms. Shrimati Preeti Saran, the Ambassador of India to Vietnam also launched the book - “India Studies in Vietnam 2013” that was conducted in 2014 with support of Embassy of India to Vietnam. The book is a collection of researches of Vietnamese scholars in 2013, and contains 4 following major subjects: (1) India’s economic integration; (2) Politics and security; (3) Culture and society: (4) Relationship between India-Vietnam and other countries. This is one of many activities that promote strongly researches on India in Vietnam./.

Nguyen Thu Trang

Note:

(*) India’s Look East policy has been implemented by India’s government since 1990s of the previous century for enhancement of economic and political relationship of this country with East Asia and Pacific regions in which Southeast Asia plays a core position.