Intl seminar on 'Reviving Silk Route' in Goa

Panaji, Jan 18: More than 50 scholars and experts from India, the UK and the Netherlands will deliberate on reviving the Silk Route at a seminar starting from February 9.

The two-day international seminar on ''Reviving the Silk Route: New Initiatives and Engagements for the 21st Century'' will be organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs(ICWA), in association with the International Centre (ICG), Goa.

The Indian council of World Affairs Deputy Director General P K Kapur, said "the discussion will be held on themes like Silk Route Countries, the past Inspiring the Future, Sovereign states in Central Asia, the Contemporary Economic Scenario and Reviving the Silk Route and promoting Cooperation in the age of Globalisation."

Mr Kapur said the highlight of the seminar will be the keynote speech by Mr Colin Thubron, one of the world's renowned travel writers from England. Educated at Eton college, he has written extensively on China and Russia. His book ''Shadow of the Silk Road'' has been released recently. He has been awarded the Commander of the British Empire(CBE) by Queen of England.

The prime objective of the seminar is to encourage further efforts to revive the Silk route by bringing experts in the area of international relations and trade together, he added.

The Silk route is the oldest and probably most well-known trading route in the world and has a history stretching back several thousand years. The 10,000 kms route spanned India, Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and China. It has always been a bridge between Asia and Europe, serving as a link for flow of culture, ideas and technologies.

UNI