scholarly journals Sino-Iranian Strategic Partnership: Prospects and Challenges

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 1043-1050
Author(s):  
Sehar Sabir ◽  
Muhammad Ijaz Latif
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
International System ◽  
Strategic Partnership ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Multiple Factors ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Bilateral Cooperation ◽  
Middle East Policy ◽  
The Impact

China and Iran have developed mutual inter-dependence and bilateral cooperation in several fields. Though China and Iran are closer to sign 25 year strategic partnership, yet the final draft of the deal is being negotiated between the two parties. The expectations are high on Iranian side, however one or anotherway there are multiple factors associated with such developments. For instance; Chinese image in contemporary international system, US factor, international sanctions against Iran, Iranian perception and role in the region, and Chinese ambitious Belt and Road initiative is supposed to determine the depth and sustainability of this strategic partnership. This paper argues that the apprehensions attached to the deal are reflecting western perception whereas China’s interest are more economic/commercial and business oriented, thus limiting their cooperation in other fields. This paper addresses the prospects of these negotiations considering the impact of afore mentioned factors on the background of their relations, thus articulates challenges faced by both the parties for expected enhanced strategic partnership. The paper concludes that Sino-Iranian cooperation is not only confined to economic field rather expands to socio-cultural and technological fields as well, but this must also be viewed as part of China’s over all Middle East policy considering her economic might and investment posture through Belt and Road initiative.    

It’s All about the Coalition

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-354
Author(s):  
Sovinda Po ◽  
Christopher B. Primiano
Keyword(s):  
International System ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Negative View ◽  
The World ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Media ◽  
Economic Ties ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Strategic Goal

Abstract Since its creation in 2013, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has received ample attention in the media and from government officials and scholars. Many different, and often polarising, views exist on BRI. While some view it as China’s grand strategic goal of remaking the world in its own image, others perceive it as consistent with the international system. Using interviews conducted in Cambodia and an examination of press sources, this article draws from the selectorate theory to examine both why the Cambodian government is siding with China regarding economic ties, specifically regarding BRI, and the impact that is having on popular perception in Cambodia. The small coalition in Cambodia that Hun Sen seeks to placate results in a negative view among a significant segment of the Cambodian populace regarding Cambodia’s relations with China, and Chinese investments in particular.

China’s Impact on the Middle East and North Africa’s Regional Order

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordi Quero
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Law Of The Sea ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Global Order ◽  
Bretton Woods ◽  
Regional Order ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Belt And Road

This article explores the impact of China on the norms and institutions constituting the regional order in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It does so by assessing the effect that China’s challenges to the global order will have on the MENA. It is argued that scholars tend to focus on Beijing’s foreign policy directly targeting the region, especially the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). But in doing so, they overlook another parallel channel through which China may have an important, even critical, impact: the consequences unfolding from China’s different challenges to the global order. The fact that China may prove successful in articulating parallel and/or alternative norms and institutions to those that currently define the global liberal order could trigger shifts in the MENA normative environment. Three cases are examined in order to assess this potential: its challenge to some elements of the Bretton Woods global economic order; China’s contestation of the Law of the Sea; and its challenge to particular liberal elements of the global order.

China’s Strategic Partnership with Kuwait: New Opportunities for the Belt and Road Initiative

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-519
Author(s):  
Mordechai Chaziza
Keyword(s):  
Considerable Increase ◽  
Strategic Partnership ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Investment Opportunities ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Chinese Trade ◽  
Economic Engagement ◽  
The Belt And Road ◽  
Successful Integration

In July 2018, the Kuwaiti Emir made a state visit of great significance to China, as both countries agreed to establish a strategic partnership creating new opportunities for Kuwait, which aspires to diversify its economy and seek investment opportunities. This study investigates various aspects behind the establishment of this partnership and examines the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Kuwait Vision 2035 (KV2035) to understand the extent of economic engagement and relationship between the two nations. However, despite the considerable increase in Chinese trade and investments in Kuwait, some significant internal obstacles and external challenges remain to the successful integration of KV2035 with the BRI.

scholarly journals Quantitative Dynamics Effects of Belt and Road Economies Trade Using Structural Gravity and Neural Networks

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824402110326
Author(s):  
Koffi Dumor ◽  
Li Yao ◽  
Jean-Paul Ainam ◽  
Edem Koffi Amouzou ◽  
Williams Ayivi
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Neural Networks ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Bilateral Trade ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Neural Network Analysis ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Trade Partners

Recent research suggests that China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) would improve the bilateral trade between China and its partners. This article uses detailed bilateral export data from 1990 to 2017 to investigate the impact of China’s BRI on its trade partners using neural network analysis techniques and structural gravity model estimations. Our main findings suggest that the BRI countries would raise exports by a modest 5.053%. This indicates that export and network upgrades should be considered from economic and policy perspectives. The results also show that neural networks is more robust compared with structural gravity framework.

scholarly journals China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Will it Make or Mar Development in the Central and West Africa Subregions?

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
William G. Dzekashu ◽  
Julius N. Anyu
Keyword(s):  
Growth Dynamics ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
The West ◽  
Colonial Era ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Domestic Products

The West, chiefly Europe, left political footmarks in Africa from the Colonial Era, along with varying economic footprints and surviving engagements in the immediate Post-colonial Era. However, the relationships between Africa and her former colonial masters have hardly yielded much to the former following the wave of independence, leading to the perception of failed relationships. This perception of failure to deliver on their undertakings has left Africa with only one option—China. The latter has been addressing some of Africa’s urgent infrastructure needs in return for natural resources and agricultural products. These engagements on the surface appear to be good business, but on further examination seem questionable notably as it relates to debt distress on vulnerable economies. To increase her footprint within the continent, China extended her Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to most African nations who have signed a memorandum of understanding for future development projects. Though the commitments usually are unspecified, China’s investments have seen rapid growth since the early 2000s, largely owing to the implementation of the BRI. The memoranda have had the potential to strengthen ties with partner nations. The expansion to include Africa in its economic participation in the BRI has left the West questioning China’s motives while reinforcing suspicions about possible future US-China conflict. The impact of BRI on the African continent is quite visible in all the subregions, especially in their improved gross domestic products. A burning question has been whether these partnerships represent win-win relationships for sustainable growth or debt-growth dynamics.

Implications of China’s Belt and Road Initiative for Japan’s Involvement in the Middle East

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-214
Author(s):  
Yoram Evron
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Middle Eastern ◽  
Political Process ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Belt And Road

In recent years, the ties between Asian powers and Middle Eastern countries have grown significantly, and the consequence of this development is a gradual spin-off of intra-Asian political process to the Middle East. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) provides an intriguing illustration of such a possible spin-off. Japan’s response to BRI is mostly negative but less clear is the possible implications of the China–Japan confrontation over BRI for their interaction with the Middle East. Japan’s responses to the BRI and China’s perceptions thereof can expand the set of factors that shape the two Asian powers’ involvement in that region.

scholarly journals Impact of Transport Infrastructure on Gross Regional Products: Evidence from Chinese Provinces under the “Belt and Road Initiative”

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-45
Author(s):  
Jin-Hui Li ◽  
Chol-Ju An ◽  
Gwang-Nam Rim
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Development Levels ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Belt And Road

Purpose: This paper analyzes the impact of transport infrastructure on Gross Regional Products in Chinese provinces under the “Belt and Road Initiative”. Methods: The impact of the key elements of transport infrastructure on Gross Regional Products is analyzed based on the data related to development levels of transport infrastructure and economic development. Correlation and regression analyses were used for data analysis. Results: It is found that railways and highways, which are the key elements of transport infrastructure, have a strong correlation with Gross Regional Products, and their effects are diverse among provinces under study. Implications: The findings demonstrate the position and role of diverse infrastructural elements in enhancing the economic benefits of infrastructural investment and promoting economic growth. Thus, it is expected to facilitate decision-making related to infrastructural investment under the “Belt and Road Initiative”.

scholarly journals Addressing Impact Evaluation Gaps in Belt and Road Initiative Projects in Africa: The Standard Gauge Railway Project in Kenya as a Proof of Concept

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-38
Author(s):  
Keren Zhu ◽  
Rafiq Dossani ◽  
Jennifer Bouey
Keyword(s):  
Impact Evaluation ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Stakeholder Participation ◽  
Social Benefit ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to global development will be unprecedented and significant, and developmental impact evaluation is therefore central to understanding BRI projects and making informed decisions. Compared with evaluations of individual projects and programs, evaluation of large and mega infrastructure projects under the BRI is particularly challenging and complex in integrating stakeholder objectives, accounting for social benefit and costs, and tracking long-term project impact. In this paper, we summarize the key drawbacks of existing BRI evaluation frameworks, propose a systematic evaluation framework elicitation method based on the inputs from BRI subject matter experts and verified through stakeholder participation, and apply an interim evaluation framework in understanding the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway project in Kenya, as a proof of concept of a comprehensive evaluation framework. In doing so, we seek to provide a tool for BRI decision makers and stakeholders to assess these projects holistically at planning, construction and operation stages.

scholarly journals Has “the Belt and Road initiative” Improved the Pollution Level?

2021 ◽  
Vol 275 ◽  
pp. 02023
Author(s):  
Jing Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Technological Innovation ◽  
Foreign Investment ◽  
Industrial Structure ◽  
Pollution Level ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Waste Gas ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Belt And Road

Based on the panel data of 278 prefecture-level cities in China from 2008 to 2018, this paper adopts DID method to verify the impact of “the Belt and Road initiative” on pollution level of these cities, the results are still robust through the placebo test and PSM-DID, the mechanism is also analyzed. The study found that “the Belt and Road initiative” has a significant effect on the emission of wastewater, waste gas and dust of cities in China; the mechanism test shows that “the Belt and Road initiative” has significantly reduced urban environmental pollution by promoting foreign investment, upgrading industrial structure and technological innovation.

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