<p>A comprehensive study of China is one of the most important areas of research at Observer Research Foundation. The ORF China Studies Programme has been closely following the emergence of India’s great neighbour on the global centre-stage as a military and economic superpower. Of particular interest have been China's political and social evolution, its economy and how its foreign and security policies affect India and the world.</p> <p><br /> The ORF China Studies Series is an effort to analyse China's economic, political and military trajectory in a sustained and dispassionate manner and create a body of insightful work which will be useful to scholars, &nbsp;policymakers, journalists and all those interested in knowing China better.</p>

<p><strong>M. Rasgotra</strong> joined the Indian Foreign Service in September 1949. In the pioneering years of Indian diplomacy, he served with distinction in Indian missions in Washington D.C., Kathmandu and in the Ministry of External Affairs. From 1958 to 1962, he was India’s representative on the UN Trusteeship Council, the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee and the Decolonisation Committee. From 1962 to 1967, he made a notable contribution to the evolution and implementation of India’s policies towards its neighbours.</p> <p><br /> Mr Rasgotra’s ambassadorial career took him to Morocco and Tunisia, the USA, the UK, Nepal, the Netherlands, France and UNESCO. His tenure as Foreign Secretary from 1982 to 1985 was marked by a renewal in Indo-American relations, sustained negotiations with Pakistan and an opening to China. He played a significant role in the prestigious events of the period—the Seventh Non-Aligned Summit, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the Six-Nation Appeal on Nuclear Disarmament and the Six-Nation Summit in New Delhi.</p> <p><br /> After retirement, he was Honorary Visiting Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Regents’ Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and President of the Delhi College of Arts and Commerce. He is founder President of the International Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies. Currently, he is President, Centre for International Relations at the Observer Research Foundation.</p> <p><br /> In 2002, he was decorated with the Padma Bhushan.</p>

<p><strong>Rajeev Anantaram</strong> is Senior Fellow at Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), New Delhi. He has extensive professional experience in India and the United States, including think tanks, non-profit organisations, public interest groups and the private sector. He has worked in the areas of energy &amp; environmental policy, technology policy and behavioural health. His research interests are in the areas of trade and investment policy regimes in South and Southeast Asia, and regional trade agreements and policies that support sustainable growth.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Vivek Bharati</strong> is Executive Director for External Affairs at PepsiCo India. Prior to this, he was advisor for national policy and programmes to Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce &amp; Industry (FICCI).</p> <p><br /> <strong>Prodipto Ghosh</strong> is a multidisciplinary professional specialising in the interface of science, economics and public policy. He was with the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Currently, he is Distinguished Fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi. He has held many consultancy positions both in India and abroad. He has several peer-reviewed publications in the area of energy, environment and development, and several books in these fields.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Prem Shankar Jha</strong> is a noted analyst and commentator. He has written extensively for India’s leading newspapers, including <em>The Hindu</em>, <em>The Hindustan Times</em>, <em>The Economic Times</em> and <em>The Financial Express</em>. He is the author of several books, including <em>Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger: Can China and India Dominate the West?</em> (2010).</p> <p><br /> <strong>V.P. Kharbanda</strong> is Deputy Director, National Institute of Science Technology and Development Studies, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi. His research areas include technological change and innovation policies in China and India.&nbsp;</p> <p><br /> <strong>Sudha Mahalingam</strong> is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Next Generation Infrastructures Foundation. She is an energy economist with 30 years of professional experience. She is Member of India’s Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board. &nbsp;Her areas of interest encompass the geopolitical, economic, environmental and regulatory dimensions of all forms of energy including oil, gas, electricity including nuclear, hydro and coal as well as midstream and downstream activities like refining, petrochemicals, fertilisers etc. She has published numerous articles in Indian and international journals and writes regularly in the opinion columns of newspapers. She also speaks regularly on energy issues in national and international conferences.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Sriram Natrajan</strong> is an independent researcher currently based in Thailand. Prior to this, he was Research Professor at the Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi. He has written extensively on rural livelihood in China.&nbsp;</p> <p><br /> <strong>D.S. Rajan </strong>retired as China Analyst, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India. He was posted to Indian missions in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Beijing during service. He is presently Director of the Chennai Centre of China Studies. He has been regularly contributing articles on China to various journals and publications, besides taking part in seminars, workshops, etc.</p> <p><br /> <strong>C.V. Ranganathan</strong> has been Ambassador of India to various countries, including China and France. After his retirement from the Indian Foreign Service in 1993, he continues to be active, holding advisory and research positions. He also served as convener of the National Security Advisory Group. He has published many articles and contributions to books, newspapers, journals, and magazines in India and abroad on international affairs. He has co-authored a book entitled <em>India and China: The Way Ahead</em> (2000).&nbsp;</p>