Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) has become part of a pioneering effort by a Chinese institution to create a multilateral cooperative network of think tanks of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The development was a result of a bilateral MoU signed by IPS in Kunming, China with the Research Institute for Indian Ocean Economics (RIIO), Yunnan University of Finance and Economics (YUFE), said a press release issued here on Sunday. The initiative was launched during the 8th RIIO international conference on ‘Common Development of China and Indian Ocean Region’ held with the theme of ‘Challenges and Prospects of Blue Economy Cooperation in the Indian Ocean: from the Perspective of Security and Development’, which was hosted by RIIO-YUFE. Apart from IPS, the event was attended by top officials of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (SIS), India, Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD), Myanmar, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Bangladesh, and Pathfinder Foundation, Sri Lanka. The participating institutions have also signed a letter of intent to become part of the network after necessary formalities. This network will work for the policy analysis and review of Indian Ocean’s strategic issues, undertaking joint activities, promoting common development between China and Indian Ocean region through research—APP