China Center for South Asian Studies and Pathfinder strengthen ties
A senior academic delegation led by the Vice President of Sichuan University Prof. Yan Shijing and the Director General of the newly established China Center for South Asian Studies (CCSAS) Prof. Sun Shihai visited Pathfinder Foundation (PF), to discuss ways and means of further strengthening links between the two institutions through partnership and collaboration.
The CCSAS of Sichuan University is authorised by the Central Government as one of China’s top think-tanks.ccsas is committed to play a catalytic and decisive role in analysing the economic, social, security and strategic issues, as well as progress of the countries within the South Asian region, provide policy recommendations to the government, and to act as a platform for academic exchange and research cooperation between China and countries in Indian Ocean Region.
Sichuan University (SCU), established in 1896, is one of China’s top universities. SCU has a comprehensive range of disciplines covering 12 categories, and has shown great strength in research and made remarkable achievements over the years. SCU receives around 4000 overseas students from all over the world, including some from Sri Lanka, most of whom study medicine, civil engineering, humanities, economics and management.
The visiting delegation consisted of Prof. Yan Shijing – Vice President of Sichuan University; Mr. Sun Shihai – Director General of CCSAS; Prof. Zhang Li – Professor at CCSAS; Prof. Li Zhiqiang – Executive Dean of the School of International Studies; Prof. Huang Yunsong – Coordinator at CCSAS & Associate Dean of the School of International Studies and Dr. Chen Changning – Deputy Director of Center for American Studies at the School of International Studies.
The Pathfinder Foundation was represented by Bernard Goonetilleke – Chairman; Lalith Weeratunga – Senior Fellow; Luxman Siriwardena – Executive Director and Director, China Sri Lanka Cooperation Studies Centre; Admiral Prof. Jayanath Colombage director Centres for Indo-lanka Initiatives and Law of the Sea; K. Balasundaram – Chief Executive Officer MMBL group of companies; Dr. Zhou Ying – Associate Director of the China – Sri Lanka Cooperation Studies Center; Ameera Arooz – Program Manager; Gayathri Nanayakkara, Research Analyst, Yasalaniamarasekera, Asst. Program Manager and Sarah Hettiarchchi – Project Executive.
A round table discussion was conducted by the visiting delegation and Pathfinder Foundation focusing on political, strategic and economic areas impacting on both China and Sri Lanka.
Prof. Sun Shihai and Bernard Goonetilleke were signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two thinktanks. Both institutions committed to designing and implementing a realistic roadmap that will strengthen and build institutional capacity, joint research projects and exchange of scholars, which would be beneficial to enhancing linkage between the two countries.