New Delhi, Nov 9 (UNI) The conference on "India's Relations with Central and Southeast Asia: Challenges and Opportunities" was held at the Management Education Research Institute (MERI) in Janakpuri, Delhi.

The event was organised by Prof. (Dr.) Ramakant Dwidedi, Sadanand Pandey (Professor), Dr. S.S. Mishra (Associate Professor), Dr. Priyanka Murria (Associate Professor), and Dr. Richa Gupta (Assistant Professor) on Friday.
The inaugural session start with a welcome address by Prof. Lalit Aggarwal, Vice President of MERI Group of Institutions. Prof. Aggarwal highlighted the critical importance of strengthening regional partnerships to advance India’s economic and geopolitical interests.
Sardor Rustambaev, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to India, emphasized the importance of analyzing India’s rise as a major continental power in Asia, expanding its global presence through trade, commerce, and strategic partnerships. Prof. Abdusamat Khaydarov, Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Uzbekistan, highlighted ongoing diplomatic efforts to enhance India’s influence in Central and Southeast Asia.
I.P. Aggarwal, Chairman, Triveni educational & social welfare society, New Delhi, also addressed on this issue of Central and Southeast Asia. Prof. (Dr.) Ramakant Dwivedi, Head of the Centre for International Studies at MERI and Director, India Central Asia Foundation, New Delhi, emphasized that the conference aimed to identify opportunities and challenges in advancing India’s interests in Central and Southeast Asia.
Book Launch programme was organised by Literary Club members as Dr. Shikha Gupta (Associate Professor), Dr. Simranjeet Kaur (Assistant Professor), and Sarita Yadav (Assistant professor). Prof. (Dr.) Ramakant Dwivedi highlighted the official release of the book India-Uzbekistan: Perspectives on Connectivity between South and Central Asia.
First session of the conference, titled “Economic Ties: Energy, Trade & Commerce, and Connectivity”, was chaired by Ambassador Ashok Kumar Sharma, former Indian Ambassador to Kazakhstan. Sharma highlighted the critical role of economic ties in an increasingly interconnected world, emphasizing that energy, trade, & connectivity are fundamental pillars driving global growth, stability, and development.

The second session was on "The Role of Soft Power in Enhancing Cooperation" featured Ajay Kumar Kaul, Chief Editor of United News of India (UNI), discussed Southeast Asian relations and the role of media in fostering positive international ties.
Dr. Yhing Sawhney, Senior Lecturer and Director of International Affairs at Siam University, Thailand, shared insights on her Indian heritage and highlighted PM Modi’s recent visit to Vietnam, emphasizing India’s cultural diplomacy.
The third session on "Political Relations and Regional Geopolitics," Ambassador Gitesh Sarma discussed India’s efforts to strengthen its influence in Asia, highlighting regional challenges and opportunities.
Prof. Sanjay Kumar Pandey (Centre for Russian and Central Asia Studies (CRCAS) emphasized deeper collaboration with Central Asia in trade, energy, and security. Prof. M. Badrul Alam (Former Director of research and Former Head of Department of political Science, Jamia Millia Islamia university, ND) stressed global resilience, citing Qatar’s diplomacy, shared insights on cultural exchanges between India and Uzbekistan.
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A. The session concluded with remarks from Dr. Rajesh Mehta (M. Tech. (Systems and Management), IIT Delhi B. Tech., IIT Delhi, emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with Uzbekistan. Prof. (Dr). Ramakant Dwivedi then expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the guests, faculty, and students for their valuable participation and contributions to the event.

UNI XC BD