Developing close partnerships with major regional players and increasingly aware of South Asia’s potential, Russia has been interested in closer interaction with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Collaboration in both security and development issues may be beneficial for Moscow and SAARC states, with infrastructure-building, knowledge-intensive sectors and public health appearing most promising nowadays. At the same time, the Association has been often criticized as inactive and inefficient due to tensions between its member states. However, in 2020, SAARС countries have increased cooperation against the background of COVID-19 pandemic.
Developing close partnerships with major regional players and increasingly aware of South Asia’s potential, Russia has been interested in closer interaction with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Collaboration in both security and development issues may be beneficial for Moscow and SAARC states, with infrastructure-building, knowledge-intensive sectors and public health appearing most promising nowadays. At the same time, the Association has been often criticized as inactive and inefficient due to tensions between its member states. However, in 2020, SAARС countries have increased cooperation against the background of COVID-19 pandemic.
What are the prospects for SAARC development? How has the pandemic affected the Association's activities? What are Russia's key interests in South Asia? How can the space for cooperation between Moscow and the Association be expanded?
These and other issues will be discussed at the webinar titled “Russia and SAARC: Prospects and Avenues for Collaboration” to be held on October 2 at 11AM (Moscow time). The online meeting is co-organized by the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (AIDIA).
Speakers:
Tatiana Shaumyan, Head, Centre for Indian Studies, Member, the Academic Council, RAS Institute of Oriental Studies; Associate Professor, Faculty of World Politics, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Alexey Kupriyanov, Senior Research Fellow, Primakov Institute of World Economy and International Relations, RAS
Ellina Shavlay, Analyst, Laboratory of International Trends Analysis, Lecturer of English, English Language Department No.1, MGIMO University
Prof. Dattesh Prabhu Parulekar, Assistant Professor at School of International and Area Studies, Goa University
Dr. Bishnu Raj Upreti, Head, Policy Research Institute (Nepal)
Ms. Angana Guha Roy, Research Associate, Delhi Policy Group
