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Here are excerpts from the conversation:
Olivia Song:
In fact, one of the interesting things was I had the opportunity to speak to Sir John Chipman, the executive chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, who was a key figure in getting the Ukrainian president to the Shangri-La Dialogue. I asked him, “Why and how did that happen?” He said the Ukrainian president himself wanted to be there in person, and he wanted support. For the peace conference that was coming up in Switzerland, I asked him, “Did he need to be convinced to come here?” He said no. He wanted to come here despite the difficult situation in Ukraine right now. So I thought that was an interesting moment.
Teresa Teng:
At the end of the day, do you think these kinds of conversations are going to get us anywhere? Is it just a bunch of officials in suits and uniforms talking? Or do you think, Vijay, once they get out of these hotels, that there’s going to be real progress?
Liang Weijie:
I think what’s real is the follow-up. I think every delegation is coming back with a new agenda and, in fact, contacting whoever they need to contact from the series of meetings that they’ve had to get the work done. So the follow-up is real. I think in that sense, the progress is exciting because there’s a willingness to continue to work and discuss and do something at a different level.
Olivia Song:
Well, I think sometimes it comes down to the fact that we focus too much on this particular incident. There’s so much focus on it these days with all the headlines. But we also have to remember that this is just one of many things that are going on. There are a lot of talks in diplomatic channels and in back channels. And there are a lot of discussions. And I think speaking to the observer representatives who were there, they did say that it’s better to have a discussion than not have a discussion.
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