EVENTS

The seminar will explore several issues relating to China's position on the Ukraine conflict and its fallout, including: main elements and drivers of China's professedly neutral stance and its evolution after some initial confusion; Chinese assessments of the future trajectory of the war in Ukraine; impact of the Ukraine war on China's major relationships, particularly with the USA, Russia and Europe; China's 12-point position paper on the political settlement of the Ukraine conflict and the potential for China playing a mediatory role, post Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow; implications for India of deepening of Sino-Russian strategic linkages and enhanced Russian dependence on China; and comparison of respective positions of China and India on the Ukraine conflict.

About the Speaker

Mr Ashok K. Kantha is an Honorary Fellow and former Director (2017- 22) of the Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi; a Distinguished Fellow at Vivekananda International Foundation, New Delhi; and Chair of the Core Group on China of the Confederation of Indian Industry. A career diplomat, Kantha was Ambassador of India to China until January 2016. Prior to this, he was Secretary (East) at Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi with responsibility for about 65 countries in India’s extended neighbourhood. His previous assignments include High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka and Malaysia, Consul General in Hong Kong, and Deputy Chief of Mission in Kathmandu (Nepal). Earlier, Kantha served in different capacities at Indian Missions in Singapore, China and the USA, and at headquarters in New Delhi. In his diplomatic career spanning over 38 years, Kantha specialized in India’s neighbourhood and Asian affairs, with a particular focus on China. Apart from three assignments in China, he served as Joint Secretary (East Asia) and Director (China) at Ministry of External Affairs for periods of four years each. He has an advanced certificate in Chinese language from National University of Singapore.

About the Chair

Dr Bhaswati Sarkar is a Professor at the Centre for European Studies (CES), School of International Studies, JNU. She is currently the Chairperson of the Centre. She did her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. Her interest areas are nation, nationalism, democracy, immigration, minority rights, European integration, European identity and India-EU relations. She also keenly follows political developments in Asia particularly related to Indian foreign policy. She currently holds the Jean Monnet Chair on ‘Democracy, Diversity and European Identity in the European Union’ and was also awarded the Jean Monnet Module ‘Understanding European Integration Through the Regional Lens’. She has several publications to her credit and regularly participates in national and international conferences.

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