Pathfinder Foundation participates at 8th RIIO int’l conference on development of China-Indian Ocean region

From left: Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan Chairman Khalid Rahman, Pathfinder Foundation Chairman Bernard Goonetilleke, and China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations Vice President Fu Xiaoqiang  

Participants of the Eighth Research Institute of Indian Ocean, which focused on the Challenges and Prospectus for Blue Economy Cooperation 

From left: Centre for Policy Dialogue, Bangladesh Executive Director Fahmida Khatun, Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad, Pakistan Chairman Khalid Rahman, Research Institute for Indian Ocean Economies Director Zhu Cuiping, Jawaharlal Nehru University School of International Studies Dean Srikanth Kondapalli, Center for Economic and Social Development Executive Director U Zaw Oo, and Pathfinder Foundation Executive Director Dr. Dayaratna Silva

The eighth Research Institute for Indian Ocean (RIIO) International Conference, which focused on the Challenges and Prospectus for Blue Economy Cooperation in the Indian Ocean, was held in Kunming, China. 

The event held from the perspective of security and development was attended by policymakers and academia representing think-tanks in South Asia and Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, etc. 

The discussions were held under four main themes, namely Strategic Competition and Cooperation among Great Powers in the IOR, Geopolitical Changes and Challenges for Maritime Security in the IOR, Cooperative Mechanism and Building Blue Economy Partnership in the IOR, and the Problems, Challenges, and Prospects for Cooperation in the IOR.

The deliberations on the above themes are important to Sri Lanka to enable the country to exploit numerous blue economic development opportunities. In particular, building blue economic partnerships within the region will be a key subject area of discussion, as Sri Lanka assumes Chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in the latter half of this year and develops a deeper understanding of geopolitical sensitivities in developing national policies for the country. 

During the discussion on ‘Strategic Competition and Cooperation among Great Powers in the IOR’, Pathfinder Foundation Chairman Bernard Goonetilleke addressed the conference on the topic of ‘Indian Ocean power rivalry and the dilemma of small states’. In his presentation, he focused on the resurgence of great power rivalry in the 21st century and the plight of the small states, which are forced to take sides or face consequences. 

A significant highlight of the event was signing several Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) by participating think-tanks to establish a network for cooperation and undertake independent research work. During the MOU signing ceremony, Pathfinder renewed its bilateral MOU with RIIO and signed a Letter of Intent to enter into the MOU to establish a network of think tanks.

Pathfinder Foundation Executive Director Dr. Dayaratna Silva also participated at the ‘Eighth RIIO International Conference on Common Development of China and Indian Ocean region’.