Understanding of Eurasian continent vital for peace, progress

Panaji, Nov 7 (UNI) Proper understanding of Eurasian continent was vital for harnessing abundant human and natural resources that help promoting peace, progress and prosperity besides geopolitical stability and security, experts said.

They were speaking at a three-day conference on 'Central Asia and the South Caucasus' Internal and External Dynamics', which concluded here today.

The event, hosted by the International Centre, Goa (ICG) in collaboration with the Asian Dialogue Society and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan under the aegis of the Issyk-Kul Forum, Kyrgyzstan, saw the participation of about 42 experts from over 20 countries besides scholars from India, including Goa.

The forum, named after the famous lake Issyk-Kul in Kurgyzstan where it had held its first meeting 12 years ago, has grown over the years promoting dialogue among experts of the two regions.

Interacting with mediapersons before the end of the session, the experts, led by chief executive of the International Centre M Rajaretnam said, ''Talibanisation of Afghanistan by Pakistan strained relations with India and other countries of the region.

This should be stopped at once and the Asian countries should promote economic and energy security through dialogue and initiatives including realisation of the gas pipeline from Iran through Afghanistan and Pakistan.'' He said, ''As India's traditional interest in Central Asia and South Caucasus regions were being revived, it is important for local scholars and analysts to interact with experts for mutual benefits.'' The ICG, he added, will collaborate with the Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi, to hold a major conference on 'The Silk Route' besides organising a training programme for journalists from Tajikistan next year.

The programme director, Pan-Asian Found of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, a major philanthropic organisation based in Japan, welcomed the ICG's initiative to promote better understanding of the Eurasian continent in India.

Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (Singapore) deputy director Prof Amitav Acharya enumerated concerns emerging from the geopolitics of Asia with the rise of China, India, Japan and Russia.

''India's rise cannot be taken for granted despite its rich natural and human resources and record of political stability. To realise its full potential as a global and Asian player, India must overcome problems of domestic governance, manage its domestic conflicts and balance the forces who embrace change and globalisation besides those who see them as threats.'' he added.

Mr Acharya said although Asia was not a coherent region, there was winning combination here in the natural resources of the Central and South East Asia, the human resources of China and India, the creative genius of India, the manufacturing might of China and the technological sophistication of the region's early economic leaders like Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The participants said that Asia's principal challenge in the current century was to think of new ways and mechanisms that go beyond traditional mindsets and to harness these resources for the national development and the common regional good.

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