Strengthening connections between think tanks: LKIIRSS and SIIS
Saturday, 13 December 2014 00:00
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The Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS) conducted a discussion with the Shanghai Institute for International Studies (SIIS) on Thursday the 11 December 2014. Discussions took place in the presence of Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka Wu Jiang Hao.
The visiting delegation from Shanghai was headed by the institute’s Director of Academic Committee Dr. Yang Jieman and Senior Researchers in Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific Studies. Representing the institute were its Executive Director Asanga Abeyagoonasekera, former ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Nihal Rodrigo, former Director General Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute Dr. Sarala Fernando and Dr. Sithara Fernando – Senior Lecturer – KDU and the LKIIRSS Research Pool.
Initially fostering academic relations in 1960 SIIS have had researchers visiting Sri Lanka over time. The discussions picked up on past connections while engaging with contemporary international relations. Discussions centred on the theme of the 21st century Maritime Silk Road and looking parallelly at enhancing economic and civilisational contacts. Wu Jain Hao addressed the constant need to focus on ‘strengthening relationships between think tanks’. Dr. Yang Jieman of SIIS emphasised the ‘creation of a conducive environment for co-operation’. Abeyagoonasekera spoke of building ‘tier two relations between researchers of both countries’. Ideas and research literature were exchanged between delegations.
