New Delhi, September 17, 2025 — Diplomats, partners, and cultural leaders gathered at the Eros Hotel in New Delhi on Friday morning for a special Diplomatic Coffee Morning, celebrating ten years of CD Foundation’s work in cultural diplomacy.
Founded in 2015 by Charu Das, Founder & Director of CD Foundation, the initiative began as her vision to create a neutral space for embassies and communities to meet beyond politics. Ten years on, it has grown into a people-centric platform recognized for building bridges through culture, food, and exchange.
The Coffee Morning drew wide international participation, with diplomats from Bangladesh, Belarus, China, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, and Zambia representing their countries — a rare coming together that underscored the event’s significance as a hub for global dialogue.
The morning opened with a traditional lamp-lighting and a short film tracing the Foundation’s journey from Delhi to global partnerships across more than 45 countries.
Dr. Amrendra Khatua, Former Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, highlighted the enduring power of soft diplomacy, noting how cultural exchange often succeeds where politics falters. The event also carried a distinctly international voice, with H.E. Mr. Oday Hatim Mohammed of Iraq and Mrs. Phalecy Mwenda Yambayamba of Zambia both emphasizing deeper ties with India.
A highlight of the gathering was the virtual address of H.E. Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India in Auckland, who underlined the importance of sustaining long-term collaborations and expanding India–New Zealand ties across trade, tourism, and culture. His message reinforced the growing significance of people-to-people diplomacy. Ms. Mahia Williams of the Whiria Collective echoed that sentiment, reflecting on Māori–Indian collaborations as lived, participatory exchanges.
The program also spotlighted partners including Amolik Health Care, represented by Dr. Amit Luthra, and humanitarian work by United Sikh, which drew attention to flood-affected communities in Punjab.
Announcements of upcoming initiatives — from the India–UK festival in Manchester and Leeds this November to delegations in China and reciprocal festivals in India in early 2026 — pointed to an ambitious calendar ahead.
As the morning closed, the atmosphere was one of connection and continuity: a reminder that while ten years mark an important milestone, for CD Foundation it is also a beginning.
For more information you can visit https://www.cdfoundation.co.in/
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