Indian Council of World Affairs

Ambassador Vijay Thakur Singh, Director General, Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) led a delegation to Seoul, South Korea on 19-20 March 2024 for the 5^th ICWA-KNDA (Korea National Diplomatic Academy) Dialogue (19 March 2024) and the 2^nd India-RoK 2 + 2 Dialogue (20 March 2024). The 2 + 2 Dialogue is held between ICWA and RIS (Research and Information Systems for Developing Countries) from India and KNDA and KIEP (Korea Institute for International Economic Policy) from RoK.  The focus of the two dialogues was on India and RoK as partners of strategic trust in the Indo-Pacific. DG, ICWA was accompanied by Dr.Sheshadri Chari, Member, Governing Body and Governing Council, RIS for the 2+2 Dialogue. 

The first session of the ICWA-KNDA Dialogue focused on “Perspectives on Regional Strategic Architecture in the Indo-Pacific”. It was moderated by Ambassador Lee Moon-Hee, Senior Executive Director, IFANS, KNDA. The speakers were Dr. ChoiWooseon, Professor, KNDA and Dr. Pragya Pandey, Research Fellow, ICWA. Dr Teshu Singh, Research Fellow, ICWA and Dr.ChoeWongi, Professor, KNDA were the discussants. During the discussions, the two sides reaffirmed their shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific and exchanged views about regional security environment. It was noted that the increasing polarizationin the region due to intensifying US-China rivalry and the impact of the Ukraine crisis and conflict in the Middle-Easthas made it difficult for many countries in the region to navigate the great power competition. 

The second session of the ICWA-KNDA Dialogue focused on “Ways to Improve Strategic Trust between RoK and India”. This was moderated by Ambassador Vijay Thakur Singh, DG, ICWA. The speakers were Dr TunchinmangLangel, Research Fellow, ICWA and Dr. ChoWondeuk, Professor, KNDA. Dr. Song Ji-Sun, Professor, KNDA and Dr Teshu Singh, Research Fellow, ICWA were the discussants. This session noted the important milestone achieved in the bilateral relationship in 2015 when the ties were elevated to a “Special Strategic Partnership” and explored ways to further improve the strategic trust between RoK and India for making their ties ‘substantially special’ in the Indo-Pacific in the coming 50 years. 

The first session of the 2 + 2 Dialogue was chaired by Ambassador Lee Moon Hee, Senior Executive Director of IFANS, KNDA. The speakers were Dr.Seshadri Chari, Member, Governing Body and Governing Council, RIS,Dr.ChoeWongi, Professor, KNDA;Dr. Pragya Pandey, Research Fellow, ICWA;and Dr. KimJeongGon, Research Fellow, KIEP. The session focused on how the recent geopolitical developments are causing profound shifts in the strategic landscape of the Indo-Pacific region. The session delved into the  priorities for the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership moving forward which included resilient supply chains, diversification, criticaland emerging technologies, semiconductors, infrastructure development, defence production and critical minerals. 

The second session of the 2 + 2 Dialogue was chaired by Ambassador Vijay Thakur Singh, DG, ICWA. The speakers were Dr Tunchinmang Langel, Research Fellow, ICWA and Dr. ChoWondeuk, Professor, KNDA. The discussants were Dr. HanHyoungmin, Research Fellow, KIEP and Dr.Priyadarshi Dash, Associate Professor, RIS. The session discussed howSouth Korea has clearly articulated a strategic position through its Indo-Pacific Strategy to actively contribute to establishing and maintaining a rules-based order and sustainable prosperity in the global society. Similarly, India has enhanced its diplomatic efforts for international cooperation and willingly undertaken a leading role in promoting stability and prosperity in the Global South.It was noted that their bilateral partnership had the potential to contribute significantly to regional and global peace, security and prosperity. 

The third sessionof the 2+2 Dialogue focused on the rise of the Global South and RoK-India development partnership. It was chaired by Dr. LeeSiwook, President, KIEP. The speakers were Dr. KimKyunghoon, Associate Research Fellow, KIEP and Dr.Priyadarshi Dash, Associate Professor, RIS. The discussants were Dr. Song Ji-Sun, Professor, KNDA;Dr. Teshu Singhand Dr. Tunchinmang Langel, Research Fellow, ICWA. This session explored ways to strengthen the Korea-India development partnership on the world stage and discussed Korea’s efforts to contribute to India’s development journey. It was noted that India’s goal of contributing to inclusive and broad development in the Global South aligns with ROK’s goal to become a global pivotal state that supports international freedom, peace, and prosperity. In addition to strengthening their bilateral development partnership, India and RoKhave much to offer to the Global South through triangular and multilateral development cooperation mechanisms given their respective experiences and development trajectories.

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