Expert conference
Details
This second round of discussion during this year’s Trilateral Dialogue was held on November 17 at the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China. Analysing new challenges for Asian security policies, the experts emphasised the need for multilateral cooperation to enhance freedom, stability and prosperity in the region. The panel discussion was opened by Dr. Qin Zhilai, Institute for International Strategic Studies, Central Party School, Beijing, who presented an overview of Chinese security policies and current security challenges in the region.
Representing the Indian side, Ambassador T.C.A. Rangachari, Director, Academy of International Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, explained regional challenges for Indian security policy, pointing out counterterrorism alliances and the need for transnational cooperation between Asian partners, respectively the two regional major players China and India. In the following, Colonel Thomas Hambach, Branch Head, Politico-Military Affairs NATO, Federal Ministry of Defence, Berlin, outlined the German security position on Afghanistan after 2014. He particularly mentioned the goals of the Bonn II conference in 2012 and their importance for a further development of Afghanistan. Dr. Zhang Shirong, Taiwan-Hongkong-Macao Office, Institute for International Strategic Studies, Central Party School, Beijing, focused on European-Chinese energy cooperation. The interdependence of domestic and foreign policy in the light of environmental protection as well as China’s efforts in introducing green energy to the market over the past years were highlighted.
During a follow-up panel discussion, chaired by Dr. Beatrice Gorawantschy, Director KAS/New Delhi, the keynote topics were further elaborated by commentaries of General Dipankar Banerjee, Mentor, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, India, Mohan Guruswamy, Chairman and Founder of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, former Adviser to the Government of India, Secretary to the Government, Prof. Dr. Srikanth Kondapalli, Professor of Chinese Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, Prof. Dr. Stefan Fröhlich, Professor for International Politics, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Prof. Dr. Holger H. Mey, Vice President, Head of Advanced Concepts CASSIDIAN and Uzma Ashraf, Asian Institute of International Financial Law (AIIFL) in Hong Kong. In their contributions, the experts analysed crucial points in the light of global security architecture. Reform of international institutions such as the IMF, the Worldbank and the UN Security Council towards a higher integration of the Asia-Pacific Region was highlighted, alongside with new, common threats to the global community, such as cyberwar and bio-terrorism.
The variety of topics discussed at the 2011 Trilateral Dialogue reflects the wide range of interdependence of modern security policy with other political fields. Peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific can only be achieved through co-operation, based on mutual understanding. Since 1997, the annual Konrad-Adenauer foundation’s Trilateral Dialogue: China-India-Germany, contributes to this process by facilitating discussions among experts from the region as well as Germany.
The Trilateral Dialogue will continue until November 19th in Shanghai.
