Vivekananda International Foundation | Seeking Harmony in Diversity

VIF-Embassy of ROK Seminar on Prospects of Peace and Denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula

The Vivekananda International Foundation organized a joint closed-door seminar with the Embassy of Republic of Korea on 20 December 2019 to discuss ‘Peace and Denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula’. After opening remarks by Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF; Ambassador Shin Bong Kil gave the inaugural remarks. The presentations from the South Korean side were made by Mr Kwan-Sei Lee, Director of the Institute for Far Eastern Studies (IFES) and Former Vice-Minister of Unification and Mr Byong-Chul Lee, Research Professor, IFES.

March 21, 2020 Event Report

Interaction with Korean National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA)

The Vivekananda International Foundation organized a closed-door interaction with a visiting delegation from the Korean National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA), South Korea on 14 June 2019. The interaction covered a gamut of issues from the emerging discourse on Indo-Pacific to the peace process on Korean Peninsula. On Indo-Pacific, the Indian side asserted that it has historical interests in the region that go beyond aligning with the US articulation or containing China. India has constantly reiterated that it supports a free, open, inclusive and a rules-based Indo-Pacific order.

March 19, 2020 Event Report

Interaction with Professor C. Raja Mohan

The Vivekananda International Foundation organized an interaction with Dr C. Raja Mohan, Director of Institute of South Asia Studies at National University of Singapore on the topic of "Global Dynamics and Challenges to India". Dr Mohan focused his talk on structural drivers that shape and impact international relations and global dynamics. He emphasized that the west was going through a once in a century turmoil. Post the Great Depression and the interwar period, there was emergence of a large number of progressive movements in the United States and elsewhere in the Western world.

March 19, 2020 Event Report

Roundtable Discussion on Brexit and its Impact on the European Union: Implications for India

Nearly four years after holding the fateful referendum to leave the European Union, the United Kingdom eventually ceased to be an EU member on 31 January 2020. The country, however, would remain a part of the Customs Union till the culmination of the transition phase in December 2020. During this transition phase several existing arrangements including freedom of movement, cross-border travel and personal rights of citizens would continue post which the UK is expected to introduce a new immigration policy.

March 13, 2020 Event Report

UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People

The Vivekananda International Foundation organized an interactive session with the ‘UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People’ on 2 March 2020. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF delivered his opening remarks following by a brief introduction on India’s policy towards Palestine by Amb. Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF. The UN Committee was represented by Amb. Cheikh Niang, Chair and Permanent Representative (PR) of Senegal; Amb. Syed Mohamad Hasrin bin Tengku Hussin, PR of Malaysia; Amb. Mohammad K. Koba, DPR of Indonesia; Amb.

March 12, 2020 Event Report

Interaction on US-Iran Tensions after the Death of Major General Qassem Soleimani

The Vivekananda International Foundation organized an interactive session on “Interaction on US-Iran tensions after the death of Major General Qassem Soleimani” on 7 January 2020. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director, VIF delivered his opening remarks following by a brief discussion by Amb. D P Srivastava, Lt. General Syed Ata Hasnain and Amb. P P Shukla. The discussion broadly focused on the geostrategic consequences in the region as well as its implication on the US interests.

March 12, 2020 Event Report

Roundtable on ‘Managing India’s Relations with the Four Major Powers in an Unpredictable World’

The Vivekananda International Foundation organized a closed-door roundtable on ‘Managing India’s Relations with the Four Major Powers in an Unpredictable World’ on 3rd February 2020. The meeting was attended by many retired senior diplomats and military officials. The Round table raised many pragmatic insights and concerns regarding India’s external engagement with the four major powers, i.e., the United States, China, Russia and Japan.

March 11, 2020 Event Report

Round Table Discussion on ‘India-Central Asia Relations’

Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organised a Round Table Discussion (RTD) on ‘India-Central Asia Relations’ on 23 January, 2020. Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, delivered the opening remarks followed by a key note address by Amb. Pankaj Saran, Deputy National Security Advisor, Govt. of India. Mr. Manish Prabhat, Joint Secretary (Eurasia Division, Ministry of External Affairs) also delivered his remarks on India-Central Asia relations. Ambassadors of five Central Asian Republics along with Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran made presentations in the RTD.

February 28, 2020 Event Report

Interaction with International Department of Communist Party of China Central Committee (IDCPC)

The Vivekananda International Foundation hosted a delegation from the International Department of CPC Central Committee (IDCPC) on 16 January 2020. The delegation was led by Dong Weihua, Deputy Director-General of Research Office of International Department of CPC, and Vice-Secretary-General of China Council for BRICS Think Tank Cooperation (CCBTC).

February 10, 2020 Event Report

Interaction with New Zealand Delegation

On 13th January a delegation from New Zealand visited the Vivekananda International Foundation. The delegation comprised of Commodore Mellissa Ross, Deputy Chief of the Navy, Ms. Erin Duncan, Deputy High Commissioner to India, Ms. Suzannah Jessep, Director of Research and Engagement at the Asia New Zealand Foundation, Manjeet S.

January 20, 2020 Event Report