The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung is committed to supporting the German government in stepping up its activities in the Indo-Pacific. The KAS scholars put forth the following recommendations for better engagement with the Indo-Pacific in the course of the seminar:

Security policy

• Need for increased partnerships with regional powers, underpinning the values of multilateralism, rule of law, liberalism, democracy, equitable rights among others.
• Close partnership and collaboration of Germany and the EU with Japan, India, Australia towards a prospective expansion of the QUAD security and regional framework, underpinning democracy as the common bond between member countries.
• Need for strengthening Germany’s role in areas of security cooperation, mediator for regional conflicts.
• Dispensation of reliable information and maintaining data security as a crucial factor of stability in the region.
• In navigating a current and a post-pandemic world, vaccine diplomacy stands out as a sensitive foreign policy field in which Germany and the EU, along with their partners, should aim for a health-oriented global approach.

Economy and trade

• Diversification of trade partners in the region, taking cognizance of the issue of a shift in supply chain networks.
• Network or collaborate more closely with innovation projects in the Indo-Pacific region, especially in the medical sector (e.g.: Indo-German Science and Technology Centre, New Delhi).
• Join efforts in building climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Integrated education approach including artificial intelligence and digital innovation and facilitating knowledge transfers.
• Work towards an EU-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.

Culture and religion

• Stronger collaboration with universities and academic bodies, e.g.: DAAD, MPI, Goethe-Institut, PASCH cooperation, Chin- Kobe.
• Invest in cultural programmes to increase Germany’s popular visibility and foster grassroots engagement: Food tourism, spices, spirituality (Yoga and meditation), films and theatre.
• Take a more sincere and pragmatic approach to cultural exchange as a vital means of engagement and platform for understanding.
• Strengthening ties between the EU and ASEAN academics, draw on specialised expertise to build development and cooperation in urgent fields.

Climate and energy

• Protection and favouring sustainable and ecological solutions with  a stronger focus on collaboration with indigenous communities.
• Active collaboration between international actors/organisations, different governance systems and grassroots organisations.
• Coordinated responses to the high demand for energy-efficient and climate friendly policies and prerogatives (e.g.: collaboration in terms of International Solar Alliance; Transborder hydro-systems and hydro-power sharing.
• Engagement and cooperation in disaster management, risk reduction and resilience for managing environmental issues.
• Providing urban amenities in rural areas to liberate urban space congestion, pollution and other environment-related issues.
• Building infrastructure and investment in green energy and sustainable solutions.
• Help formulate and sustain a uniform EU narrative or stake in the region for meeting the challenges concerning environment sustainability.