India Emerging as Strong Voice for Peace: VP Radhakrishnan

• C. P. Radhakrishnan addressed ICWA’s 25th anniversary celebrations in New Delhi.
• He congratulated S. Jaishankar and the MEA team on the successful BRICS Summit.
• He said global peace requires nations to recognise each other’s concerns and pursue mutual benefit.
• He outlined four priorities for ICWA, including research, emerging technologies, academia and knowledge-building.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 15th Sept: Vice-President and President of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), C. P. Radhakrishnan, on Tuesday addressed the Council’s 25th anniversary celebrations as an Institution of National Importance at Sapru House, New Delhi.

Radhakrishnan described the Silver Jubilee as an occasion for gratitude and reflection and paid tribute to the founders, former leaders, Directors General, scholars, diplomats, researchers and staff who have contributed to ICWA’s legacy.

He congratulated External Affairs Minister and Vice-President of ICWA S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and the Ministry of External Affairs team for successfully hosting the BRICS Summit. He said the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration was significant at a time when the world is facing conflicts and contradictions.

The Vice-President said the first objective of diplomacy is to build good relations among nations. He emphasised that human progress and world peace must go together and can be achieved when countries recognise each other’s concerns and work for mutual benefit.

Highlighting India’s growing international role under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Radhakrishnan said India is emerging as a strong voice for peace, progress and prosperity. He cited the principles of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Vaccine Maitri, India’s disaster-response efforts, LiFE and initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and Global Biofuel Alliance as examples of India’s global engagement.

He also highlighted India’s achievements in UPI and Digital Public Infrastructure, saying transparent payment systems contribute to transparent governance. He said India is sharing its technological and institutional capabilities with the Global South through initiatives such as ITEC and educational collaborations, including the first IIT campus outside India in Zanzibar.

Radhakrishnan said the changing global environment has increased the importance of ICWA and outlined four priorities for the Council. These include strengthening research on Neighbourhood First, Act East, Global South and Indo-Pacific priorities; expanding work on cyber security, space, critical technologies and global supply chains; deepening engagement with universities and young scholars; and developing ICWA as a reliable repository of knowledge on world affairs from an authentic Indian perspective.

He said ICWA must prepare itself intellectually and institutionally for Viksit Bharat @ 2047 and work towards becoming one of the world’s respected centres for the study of international affairs.

The Vice-President also visited a photo exhibition showcasing ICWA’s journey and evolution and presented mementos to former Directors General in recognition of their contributions.