Global conclave on international relations kicks off with participation from 41 countries
The three-day NIICE Global Conclave on international relations kicked off virtually on June 25.
NIICE Global Conclave is a three-day event organized by Nepal Institute for International Cooperation which hosts 220 speakers from 41 countries.
There are a number of sessions dealing with the foregin policy of Nepal, India and China in the virtual event.
Besides, there are a number of sessions dealing with US foreign policy under the Biden Administration, fate of Indo-Pacific Strategy and China’s Belt and Road initiative.
Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunawardena, Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Former Minister and Indian Emissary to the G20 & G7, Dr. Abdulla Rasheed Ahmed, Minister of State for Education, Maldives and Prof. Dr. Taniguchi Tomohiko, Professor, Keio University and Special Adviser to PM Shinzo Abe (retd.) inaugurated the virtual conclave.
During his address, Sri Lankan Minister Dinesh Gunawardena appreciated Nepal’s role in mitigating climate change. He said, “While Sri Lanka appreciates the role of Nepal as a land-lock in the Himalayas against climate change, we wish to collectively further cooperate with strong commitment towards climate friendly manners and for more clean Oxygen”.
He further highlighted that “Sri-Lankan government is further willing to increase its ties with Nepal and all the nations around the world with constructive dialogue to further the interest of Sri Lanka on sustainable environment, development of human resources and prosperity.”
Similarly, Minister of State for Education, Maldives, Dr. Abdulla Rasheed Ahmed said that all countries should take necessary imperatives to combat climate change. Highlighting the Green Schools of Maldives, he called upon the members to “Think Globally and Act Locally” in order to mitigate the impact of climate change.
In his comprehensive address, Prof. Dr. Taniguchi Tomohiko, Professor, Keio University and Special Adviser to PM Shinzo Abe (retd.) emphasized the importance of the Indo-Pacific region.
He laid out the Objectives of Japan's Foreign Policy as (1) Upholding the Core Values (2) Maintaining territorial integrity, and (3) Maintaining peace and security across the world. He went on to talk about the development of the concept of Indo-Pacific and highlighted that it is imperative for countries of the region to maintain a fine balance between their economic and strategic interest’s vis a vis China.
Referring to the current pandemic, Former Indian Minister Suresh Prabhu highlighted how the world is facing an economic issue, issue of climate change, and a major public health crisis simultaneously.
He focused on the interconnectedness of the world and said that India and Nepal were twin brothers that should work collaboratively through regional co-operation.
The conclave is supported by 17 most prestigious universities and think tanks of the world.
