Cooperation with China to Advance Scientific and Technological Knowledge

The development of a country is closely linked to investments made in science and technology as well as in social science and humanities. The investments made by China during last three decades in scientific research and technological innovation have led to flourishing industries and ultimately to economic development. India needs to enhance its investment in scientific research and innovation. However, unregulated development also leads to environmental and ecological issues. India and China are both actively addressing issues related to climate change. It may be worthwhile to develop a joint strategy by India and China to mitigate impacts of climate change. Another area where India and China can work together to understand the Himalayan eco-system as it affects many countries in this region. A formation of the Himalayan Science Council has been proposed to address issues related to glaciology, biodiversity, earthquakes and landslide as well as social and cultural issues. Such collaboration can be further advanced in the Arctic and Antarctica through the Asian Forum for Polar Sciences and influence Arctic and Antarctic research. The scientific leadership which India has in the Indian Ocean needs to leveraged for scientific diplomacy with China. Such scientific collaboration will not only help India and China but also contribute towards addressing regional and global scientific challenges.

Prospects and Paths of CICA's Transformation

The Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is at a critical juncture of development and transformation. In the past two decades, CICA has developed itself into the most representative and inclusive pan-Asian forum on regional security and cooperation, making steady progress on confidence building and regional cooperation, as well as promoting ideas of comprehensive, common, cooperative, and sustainable security. CICA has played a unique role in gradually raising Asia's self-awareness on a regional security agenda and regional architecture building. Nevertheless, CICA's overall influence on Asia's security agenda is still limited, its potential is far from being fully realized, let alone its long-term goal of upgrading into an organization of security and cooperation in asia (OSCA). In the context of changing dynamics in the regional security landscape, there are both great opportunities and huge challenges for CICA's further development and transformation. China, as the chairing country of CICA in the next few years, should show its stewardship to strategically prioritize CICA's road map for its transformation, by enhancing CICA's capacity and institutional building, improving the efficacy of CBMs for regional security, and helping build CICA's capability of delivering more regional security public goods. For the purpose of realizing these agendas of CICA, China should not only work more closely with the core members of CICA, but also engage well with extra-regional powers, particularly the United States, in the area of regional security architecture building.