China-Indian Ocean Region Forum

China-Indian Ocean Region Forum

#GS-02 International Relationship

For Prelims:

China-Indian Ocean Region Forum:

  • On November 21, China’s top development aid agency convened the first “China-Indian Ocean Region Forum” in the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming.
  • The forum was hosted by China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) which according to its website formulates policies and coordinates major foreign aid issues.
  • The forum was termed as “the first high-level official development cooperation forum jointly held by China and countries in the Indian Ocean Region.
  • As per CIDCA high-level representatives of 19 countries, including Indonesia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Djibouti, Australia and representatives of three international organizations were present at the hybrid forum.
  • India was not a part of the meeting.
  • Australia and Maldives, subsequently released statements rebutting the claim, emphasising that they did not participate officially.

Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

  • The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is an international body comprising the coastal countries that border the Indian Ocean.
  • It was formed in 1997 and its secretariat is in Mauritius.

Currently, it has 23 member states:

  • Australia, Bangladesh, the Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

IORA has 10 dialogue partners:

  • China, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Turkey, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

IORA became an observer to the UN General Assembly and the African Union in 2015.

Source “China’s moves in the Indian Ocean