On 18 September 2005, India’s National Security Advisor, HE Mr Mayankote Kelath Narayanan, addressed the audience of the 3rd Global Strategic Review Conference of the IISS in Geneva. He spoke about “China and India: The Asian Rising Powers”. The talk was followed by a debate around “An Indian Perspective".
In his address, Mr Narayanan said the simultaneous rise of two large societies such as China and India – in close proximity to each other – was unprecedented. This would, he remarked, shift the global centre of gravity closer to Asia, with global institutions having to accommodate China and India far more than at present. He emphasised that there is enough space for both societies to continue to grow and simultaneously achieve their aspirations. Indeed, they could mutually reinforce each other and take advantage of each other’s areas of strength.
Mr Narayanan added that the key focus in India’s foreign policy was to ensure the stability and security of the region, comprising the arc of nations from the Persian Gulf to East Asia. India’s aim was to build cooperative relationships with all its neighbours, including a cooperative strategic relationship with China. He noted that the resumption of nuclear cooperation with the United States marked a new chapter in this bilateral strategic relationship.
