The China International Development Cooperation Agency published on 17 December 2024 an article titled "3rd China-Indian Ocean Forum on Development Cooperation Held in Kunming."
Wang Yong, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said at the opening ceremony of the China-Indian Ocean Forum that "the construction of a maritime community with a shared future is evolving from a Chinese initiative into a shared international goal."
India's Observer Research Foundation published on 30 December 2024 a commentary titled "Competitive Regionalism in the Indian Ocean" by Sayantan Haldar.
The Indian Ocean is witnessing competition for primacy between China and India. In 1997, India created the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for Regional Cooperation. China has dialogue partner status. Since 2021, China has been convening the China-Indian Ocean Forum. India is not a member.
IORA is an intergovernmental forum that seeks to operate through diplomatic dialogue on issues of maritime security. The China-Indian Ocean Forum reinforces a client-patron dynamic between China and Indian Ocean littoral states, whereas IORA is a democratic forum fostering dialogue on issues of common interest.
