On August 28th and 29th, the 9th International Conference on "China and the Indian Ocean Region: Common Development" and the 2nd roundtable of the China-Indian Ocean Blue Economy Experts Network (CIOBEN) were held in Kunming. The event, hosted by YUFE's Research Institute for Indian Ocean Economies, brought together nearly 50 leading scholars and think tank representatives.

Participants from countries including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Australia, as well as renowned academics from domestic institutions such as Fudan University and Sichuan University, engaged in in-depth discussions on the strategic landscape, regional security, and blue economy cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.

In his opening address, Chen Hong, Party Secretary of Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, emphasized that in the face of global challenges, no single country can go it alone or enjoy security in isolation. He noted that the concept of a community with a shared future, built on harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation, has become a universal consensus and a common aspiration in international relations.

The theme of the roundtable dialogue was "Exploring Maritime Cooperation and Building the China-Indian Ocean Blue Partnership." Discussions were centered on three key topics:

• Great Power Competition and the Evolution of the Indian Ocean Order

  
  

• Geoeconomics and Regional Governance in the Indian Ocean

  
  

• Security Challenges and the Construction of an Inclusive Cooperation Mechanism for the Indian Ocean

The dialogue focused on innovative pathways for maritime cooperation, exploring how a blue partnership can promote deep integration between China and Indian Ocean countries in marine science and technology, blue industries, and sustainable development. The goal is to inject new momentum into the construction of a maritime community with a shared future and to establish the China-Indian Ocean blue partnership as a model for global maritime governance.

A key highlight of the conference was the official release of the bilingual (Chinese and English) edition of the Indian Ocean Blue Economy Index (2025). This comprehensive report, the result of months of meticulous work by the Research Institute for Indian Ocean Economies and founding CIOBEN members, assesses the blue economy development levels of Indian Ocean littoral states. Through quantitative indicators and case studies, it aims to identify strengths and potential, providing a basis for policy optimization and cooperation among nations in the region.

The China-Indian Ocean Blue Economy Experts Network (CIOBEN) was initiated and established by YUFE's Research Institute for Indian Ocean Economies in August 2023. It aims to build a multi-level, international platform for academic exchange and collaborative research to advance blue partnerships and support the common development of China and the Indian Ocean region.

The founding members of CIOBEN include YUFE's Research Institute for Indian Ocean Economies (RIIO), India's School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (SIS), Pakistan's Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Myanmar's Centre for Economic and Social Development (CESD), Sri Lanka's Pathfinder Foundation (PF), and Bangladesh's Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). During the conference, the network expanded its membership, welcoming the South Asian Studies Centre at the National University of Singapore and the Center for Global Development Studies from Indonesia.