The Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), in collaboration with the Prince Saud Al Faisal Institute of Diplomatic Studies (PSAIDS), organised their 8th dialogue on 26 April 2023 at Sapru House.The dialogue focused on the changing regional dynamics and opportunities and challenges for bilateral ties in the backdrop of global geopolitical flux and saw the participation of scholars, academicians and diplomats.
In her opening remarks, Amb Vijay Thakur Singh, DG, ICWA noted that India and Saudi Arabia are traditional partners with active engagement. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the two countries have focused on further strengthening the partnership. India’s Look West policy reflects its increased desire for engagement with its West Asia neighbours. And, as Saudi Arabia implements its Look East Policy, India looks forward to further intensifying this relationship.
Head of the Centre for Asian Studies, PSAIDS Dr Ali Al Qarni, on behalf of the Director PSAIDS Dr Adel Al Omrani, Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia H.E. Dr.SuhelAjaz Khan and Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to India, H. E Mr. Saleh Eid Al Husseini also spoke in the Inaugural Session. They noted the growing trajectory of India-Saudi Arabia bilateral ties which were civilizational in character. The Vision 2030 of Saudi Arabia and the AmritKaal initiatives of India had complementarities and presented opportunities for further strengthening cooperation. Saudi Arabia and GCC are big markets for India while India is the largest market for GCC. This presents immense opportunity for enhanced economic engagement. Areas identified for cooperation included food security, energy security, and resilient value chains.
First session of the dialogue focused on the bilateral relations between the two countries and was chaired by Amb. Sanjay Singh. The speakers were Dr. Ali Al Qarni (PSAIDS), Dr. Lakshmi Priya, Research Fellow ICWA, Dr. Raja Al Marzouqi, Professor of Economy at PSAIDS and Senior Economist for the Ministry of Economy and Mr. Manish Mohan, Senior Director, Indian Confederation of Indian Industry, New Delhi. The participants noted with satisfaction that bilateral relations have been elevated to the level of strategic partnership and that there is regular political consultation at the highest level. Cooperation between the two countries during the time of Covid was exemplary. Defence cooperation as an area of cooperation needs to be explored further. The two countries needed to enhance cultural exchanges, people to people ties, and build upon public diplomacy. Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia is an economic asset. Maritime security and environmental protection need to be focused on as a regional confidence building measure.
The second session was chaired by Amb. Navdeep Suri and focused on the role of global actors in the region. The speakers in this session were Dr.AsaadAlshamlan, Head of the Centre for European Studies, PSAIDS and Prof P R Kumaraswamy, Chairperson Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. The third session was chaired by Dr.AsaadAlshamlan, Head of the Centre for European Studies, PSAIDS and focused on changing regional dynamics: perspectives from India and Saudi Arabia. The speakers in this session were Dr. F. R. Siddiqui, Senior Research Fellow, ICWA and Dr. Mansour Almarzoqi, Head of the Centre for Strategic Studies, PSAIDS. Discussions in the two sessions focused on the politics of partnerships, alliances and counter-alliances in the region and the world in the face of deepening geo-political fissures, intensifying US-China strategic rivalry and Ukraine conflict. The panellists positively assessed India’s exercise of strategic autonomy and its growing role in the region and the world. It was stressed that both India and Saudi Arabia, including as members of G20, advocated effective multilateralism and that both India and Saudi Arabia are natural partners working for peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region.
ICWA and PSAIDS also renewed their bilateral MoU on the occasion of the 8th ICWA-PSAIDS (Saudi Arabia) Dialogue on 26 April 2023. The renewed MoU was signed by Amb Vijay Thakur Singh, DG, ICWA and Dr Ali Al Qarni,Head of the Centre for Asian Studies, PSAIDS on behalf of Director, PSAIDS Dr Adel Al Omrani.
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