China and the Indian Ocean region need each other

(ECNS) -- "China needs the Indian Ocean region, the Indian Ocean region also needs China", that is the most important message conveyed in the Second International Conference on Development of China and Indian Ocean Economics hold by Research Institute of Indian Ocean Economies(RIIO) of Yunnan University of Finance and Economics(YUFE) in November 29 -30, 2012 in Kunming.

In recent years, China is taking a more progressive and active attitude in the Indian Ocean Region which draws a lot of attention and speculation of other countries. Mr. Wu Jianmin, a famous Chinese diplomat, profiles the theme of the conference "focusing on development strategies and striving for Mutual benefits" in the opening speech of the conference in this way: the world has evolved from MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction) to MED (Mutual Economic Dependence). How to achieve the development in the Indian Ocean region? Mutual benefits and mutual development is the only way to achieve the goal of the region.

In the two days conference, more than 80 senior officials and experts from China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, the United States focused on four topics: the world and regional development, the Indian Ocean strategy and regional development, Sino-Indian relations status quo and future, regional cooperation and security.

The world's center has shifted from the Atlantic to the Pacific region, While the attendee are inconsistent in whether the center will move to the Indian ocean region again, they agree with each other that Indian ocean region has never been so important in terms of economic and security. Based on this view, Professor Wang Jisi, the Dean of the School of International Studies, Peking University proposed that China should pay more attention on Geographic strategy, the southeast coast of China is important, while the western region should be addressed more importantly in the long-term.

As for the China's role in promoting economic development and cooperation in the Indian Ocean region, Wan Guanghua, director of RIIO of YUFE after analysis of the trade and economic data pointed out optimistically that the long-term growth trend of the Chinese economy will bring bright prospect for the economic and trade development of Indian Ocean region.

China and India are biggest two counties both in terms of population and economic strength in the over 30 countries in Indian Ocean Region, which leads to the discussion of Sino-India relations when we talk about the Indian Ocean Region. Some Chinese experts point out that although China is not a country of Indian Ocean Region graphically, China still needs the strategy of Indian Ocean and handling relations with India properly is the key to implement the China's strategy of Indian Ocean Region. Professor Swaran Singh, Chairman of Center for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament, School of International Studies Jawaharlal Nehru University, expressed the hope that: China should not act as a bystander in the Indian Ocean region.

At the two days seminar, almost all experts called for cooperation between China and India in the Indian Ocean Region; some experts from China and India also express frankly that China and India will have some competition in the Indian Ocean Region to some degree.

Some experts in the conference also suggest that China should strengthen the studies on the Indian Ocean Region given this area is important for China's interests. Research Institute of Indian Ocean Economies (RIIO) of Yunnan University of Finance and Economics (YUFE), established in Aug 2011, is the first of Institute in China which focus on the studies of Indian Ocean Region specifically, it was set up for the China's strategy of opening up towards Southwest. Wu Jianmin, former President of the China Foreign Affairs University, is the director of council member board of RIIO.