NEW DELHI—On Dec. 20–21 of 2018, with the initiation of the China-India high-level cultural exchange mechanism, the third India-China Think Tank Forum on “Connecting Civilizations Towards an Asian Century” was held in New Delhi, India. The foreign ministers of the two countries sent congratulatory letters to the forum. Gao Peiyong, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and TCA Raghavan, secretary general of the Indian Council of World Affairs, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Attendees numbered around 150 including Luo Zhaohui, Chinese ambassador to India, Fu Pengfei, head of the East Asian Affairs Department of the Indian External Affairs Ministry, experts and scholars from both states, China’s diplomatic corps in India, and the media.

At the opening ceremony, Luo read the congratulatory letter from Wang Yi, Chinese state councilor and foreign minister. In the letter, Wang said that think tanks are a source of thought innovation. As the highest-level and largest think tank communication platform between China and India, the India-China Think Tank Forum has been successfully held for two sessions, increasing cultural exchanges, promoting mutual understanding and trust and providing useful suggestions. Current China-India relations are developing at a good rate, which provides a good opportunity for cooperation between the two countries’ think tanks. The think tanks of the two nations are expected to learn from each other, contribute Eastern wisdom to international development and provide intellectual support for a closer China-India partnership.

Fu read the congratulatory letter from Sushma Swaraj, Indian foreign minister. In the letter, Swaraj said that the think tank forum has become an important mechanism for the two countries’ academic circles to communicate regularly and provide advice to the two countries’ officials. It is of great importance for scholars from both countries to expand cultural exchanges and learn from each other. In the spirit of friendship and openness, the forum has made remarkable contributions to enhancing mutual trust and understanding between the two countries.

Gao added that human society is experiencing rapid development, great change and large adjustments. World economic growth needs new driving forces, and a more inclusive and balanced development is needed to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. China and India should work together to address these challenges. Experts from the two countries’ think tanks should focus on international and regional issues relevant to China-India development to stabilize and develop bilateral relations. In addition to the forum exchanges, the think tanks of the two countries can cooperate in research on economic development and the improvement of governance and people’s livelihood, thus contributing to the win-win cooperation of the two nations.

Raghavan said that for two ancient civilizations, the largest and the second-largest developing countries and emerging Asian powers, regular and institutional dialogues promote economic exchanges, mutual understanding and firmer friendship. In 2018, the leaders of the two countries met several times and led bilateral relations in a positive direction. Now is the best time to enhance China-India relations. A stably developing China-India relationship is critical for promoting peace and prosperity in Asia and even the world.

The India-China Think Tank Forum was established in May 2015 by CASS and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China. The third forum conducted indepth exchanges focusing on communication, global governance, social development and cultural exchanges.