The Quad Plus think tanks dialogue was held in Sydney from 20-21 Feb, 2019. Participants were the hosts Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), along with Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), India, Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), and the Heritage Foundation, USA. Additional invitees were Institute of International Relations (IFRI), France, and Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU). Topics covered during the panel discussions were as follows:- Indo pacific concept, rules and how to assert these;

India and Tajikistan share great historical and cultural relations. Tajikistan was a part of Kushana and Persian Empires which had close cultural linkages with the Indian subcontinent. During the Islamic rule in India, Persian language and Sufism from Turkestan got assimilated into the Indian society which contributed to the base of cultural and linguistic cooperation in the modern times. Today, Tajikistan is an extended neighbour of India and is geo-strategically significant for India’s Central Asia policy.

The VIF hosted a 23 member delegation from the Tsinghua University, Beijing on 30 January 2019. The delegation was visiting India as a part of O. P. Jindal Global University-Tsinghua India Immersion Programme. Dr Arvind Gupta, Director, delivered the opening remarks and explained the historical significance of the Republic Day for India and that the Indian Constitution guarantees ‘fundamental rights’ to all its citizens that is enforceable in the courts. The democratic system has served us well and unlike Pakistan, India has maintained its unity and integrity.

The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) hosted a delegation from the China Institute of Maritime Economy, Beijing, by Mr. Zhijun Yang, the other members of the delegation were Mr. Bin Li, Mr. Yu Wang and Mr. Yang Bo. The opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Arvind Gupta, Director VIF.