China and India: Common Challenges and Common Strategies of Asia’s Rising Powers

Asia and the Pacific are changing rapidly and dynamically. A rising middle class and a highly qualified young generation on the one hand and governments on the other that face domestic pressure in order to follow and implement rules of good governance, are among general trends in the region. India and China, more than other nations in Asia, have been able to embark on a path that led to the inner circle of international relations, with access to G-20 and other world forums. These countries’ spheres of influences do not end with state borders; policies to gain power in their strategic neighborhoods can be recognized, with new alliances and new conflict patterns arising. It comes with a certain surprise that India and China are simultaneously competing and cooperating in these settings: While BRICS displayed their willingness to head the group of emerging and developing countries through the announcement to form a new development bank, the BJP-led government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently questioning China’s presence in the Indian Ocean and elsewhere. Moreover with the Obama administration’s pivot to Asia-approach, the USA are rediscovering the region as well. This comes hand in hand with closer relations with the two politically and economically rising powers. The panel discussion brings together experts from Germany, USA, India, and China to discuss the latters’ rise in international relations. Whereas the US government is now "rebalancing to Asia", one has also to ask for German and European reactions vis-à-vis India’s and China’s role in global politics.

Welcome Remarks: Frank Priess (KAS, Deputy Head, Department European and International Cooperation)

Discussants: Dr. Joachim Pfeiffer MP (CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Spokesperson for energy/economic affairs)

Dr. Markus Ederer (German Federal Foreign Office, State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office)

Prof. Dr. Amrita Narlikar (GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, President)

Prof. Dr. Qin Yaqing (China Foreign Affairs University, President)

Prof. Dr. Jeffrey W. Legro (University of Virginia, Vice Provost)

Chair: Prof. Dr. Patrick Köllner (GIGA Institute of Asian Studies, Director)

Link: http://www.kas.de/wf/de/33.41058/