Courtesy: MEA/Flickr
The following remarks were given by Ambassador Rajiv Bhatia, Distinguished Fellow, Foreign Policy Studies, Gateway House as a speaker at the ASEAN-India Business Summit on November 27, 2018.
Courtesy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China
Laos has come a long way from being an exotic kingdom and scene of violent conflict to relative political stability and pragmatic external relations. With External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj currently on a visit to Laos, this is the time for the two countries to focus on scaling up bilateral cooperation
Courtesy: Flickr / Paul Kagame
China’s footprint in the African continent is growing because it is a zealous summiteer. And now, in response to ‘debt-trap’ criticism, it also appears to be stressing private sector investment in Africa over loans and credit. Are there any takeaways for India in this?
Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
The United States, Europe and the Asia Pacific today form Canada’s tripartite foreign policy priorities. The ASEAN is its sixth largest partner, which was not so 20 years ago, but economic engagement with India – still small, compared to China and Japan – has scope to grow
Courtesy: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China
In Cambodia, democracy exists only in form. Liberal values, inculcated by the West, take second place to poverty alleviation and employment. Such priorities have affected its diplomatic allegiances while bilateral relations with India have not expanded
Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle
A major upcoming international conference on the Blue Economy in Nairobi in November will focus on the impracticalities of pursuing any one goal – such as sustainability – to the exclusion of business. In fact, the many interests at stake need not be in conflict with one another, to realize the goal of a true blue economy, in which business must have a significant stake.
Courtesy: MEA/ Flickr
India and Brunei have a 34-year-old diplomatic relationship; but as yet no Indian president or prime minister has paid the country a bilateral visit to strengthen these ties. The strategically-located nation is rich in its history, with a unique political system. Its foreign policy approach is non-controversial, yet noticeably pragmatic.
Courtesy: Foreign Policy
Should the conduct of diplomacy lay emphasis on values over national self-interest? This is an undying subject of debate and calls for wisdom to be drawn from both camps for the world is not strictly black-and-white
Courtesy: MEA Flickr
The fourth summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) has many implications for the countries involved. The agreements signed at the summit can only be implemented through a concerted effort by all parties.
Courtesy: MEA/ Flickr
Africa today holds great economic allure for the major powers, which are looking to deepen their partnerships with it. India, which shares a rich past with the continent, has been adopting many measures to step up economic diplomacy in the region
