The session aims to highlight on the French interest in the Indo-Pacific region as the French territories in the Indo-Pacific span 11.7 million square kilometres while accounting for 93 per cent of its Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). Furthermore, the Overseas French territories are also home to 1.5 million French nationals. The Indo-Pacific region has become a priority for France as it promotes a stable and multipolar order based on the rule of law and free movement combined with fair and efficient multilateralism in the region. France also aims to strengthen its relations with the regional organisations such as ASEAN, IORA, the Pacific Community (SPC) to contribute towards the development of multilateralism. The session further builds on the contemporary developments in the Indo-Pacific and analyses the role of other regional actors and their relationship with France to effectively foster multilateralism in the region. This session will explore this theme of France in the Indo-Pacific and its vision to promote multipolar order in the region to provide opportunity for both France and the European Union.
Programme
12:00 – 12:05 p.m. | Opening Remarks | Harsh V. Pant
12:05 – 12:20 p.m. | Interventions | HE Emmanuel Lenain
12:20 – 12:30 p.m. | Interventions | Mohan Kumar
12:30 – 12:40 p.m. | Interventions | Indrani Bagchi
12:40 – 12:45 p.m. | Discussion
12:45 – 12:55 p.m. | Q&A
12:55 – 1:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks | Harsh V. Pant
Speakers
HE Emmanuel Lenain
Ambassador of France to India
Mohan Kumar
Chairperson, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS)
Indrani Bagchi
Associate Editor and Diplomatic Editor, Times of India
Moderator
Harsh V. Pant
Director of Studies; Head, Strategic Studies Programme — ORF
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