The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) hosted a delegation from Shanghai Institute of International Studies on 19 September 2019 at VIF. The delegation was led by Dr Chen Dongxiao, the other members of the delegations were Liu Youfa (served as Ambassadorial Consul General of China to Mumbai), Liu Zongyi, Cao Jiahan and Sun Shasha.

Since opening up to foreign trade and investment and implementing free market reforms in 1979, China has become the world’s fastest-growing economy. China has transformed itself from a predominantly agricultural economy into a manufacturing powerhouse. China has taken a leading role in several critical emerging technologies. ‘Made in China 2025’, laid out how and why China would need to move up the technology ladder and close the gap with developed countries.

… There is a lot of goodwill for India in Africa. African countries appreciate its non-intrusive policies and look towards it for lead and initiative. However, India’s approach has been request-based and not initiative-based... Basically, a cohesive policy and strategic vision for its partnership with Africa is needed ... India must develop a strategic foreign policy and make it initiative-based ...

The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) hosted Dr Lou Chunhao, Deputy Director Institute of South Asian Studies and Dr Zhang Shujian from the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR). The opening remarks were delivered by Lt Gen Ravi Sawhney. In his remarks, he conveyed the Indian sensitives on the Chinese position on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In the meeting, discussions were held on Chinese Stance on Article 370, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) and the agenda for the upcoming informal Summit in Varanasi.