China will maintain commitment to climate action

Significance The China-US joint declaration to enhance climate cooperation, made on the final day of the summit, gives cause for optimism, despite bilateral relations worsening overall. China’s low profile at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow last November should not be taken as indicating that the country is wavering on its commitment to climate action. Impacts There will be strong political pressure within China to meet climate targets ahead of time. China’s announcement that it will no longer finance overseas coal projects is a clear signal of support for the greening of BRI investments. Beijing will continue pushing for developed countries to meet climate finance commitments to developing countries.

THE MAIN TRENDS OF VIETNAM - JAPAN COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF BILATERAL STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

The article examines the process of formation and development of the comprehensive political and trade and economic cooperation between Japan and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since 1973, when diplomatic relations were established between the two countries, and then received a new impetus after Vietnam started the market reforms in 1986 and commenced the renewal policy (in Vietnamese – “Đổi Mới”). In 2009, Japan and Vietnam decided to raise the bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership for the common interests of both countries. In 2010, as part of the official visit of the Prime Minister of Japan to Vietnam, a Joint Declaration on strategic cooperation for peace and prosperity in Asia was adopted.The article focuses on cooperation between the two countries in the framework of international and regional organizations, in particular in the framework of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, as well as in the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, in which Japan and ASEAN member states participate. In recent decades Japan has been one of Vietnam’s main foreign economic partners and the second largest investor into Vietnamese economy. At the same time, Japan is the largest sponsor of Vietnam through the Official development assistance program (ODA), actively assisting Vietnam in implementing its national strategy of industrialization and modernization under the framework agreement on cooperation between Vietnam and Japan until 2020 with the prospect of 2030. Besides, the article discusses and analyzes the largest joint projects implemented in Vietnam with the technical and financial assistance from Japan.

Reformasi dan keesaan gereja: Makna peristiwa 31 Oktober bagi Gereja Protestan dan Katolik masa kini

It has been well known that sixteenth century reformation of the church begun on Otober 31th 1517 when Martin Luther puted 95 theses at the gate of Wittenburg church. That is the beginning of reformation but also starting point of church separation and split. While on October 31th 1999 the Lutheran representative and the Catholic leader signed what is called Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification in which the Protestant and the Catholics show their common understanding on doctrine of justification. This event could be seen as an indication that unity among two churches is a possibility. So the first October 31th refers to reformation and separation but the second October 31th refers to unity. This article want to analize the meaning of these two events for the Protestants and Catholics in nowadays. Both churches can learn much from these important events for their present and future relationship. By analizing the meaning of the valuable historical event we can say that the way to come close to each other and to become one church in the future is open.

UZBEKSO-CHINESE COOPERATION AND ITS PROSPECTS

The article highlights the issues of Uzbek-Chinese cooperation in the years of independence and its prospects. In particular, the measures taken between the two countries in the field of trade, economic and investment, security, cultural, humanitarian, energy, transport and scientific and technical cooperation. The two countries agreed onpromising tasks, the legal basis of which is the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership, signed in 2005, and the Joint Declaration on the Comprehensive Deepening and Development of Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership in 2010. Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership, Joint Declaration on Further Deepening and Development of Bilateral Strategic Partnership in 2013, Strategic Partnership Development Program for 2014-2018 and Joint Statement signed in 2016

Denominating “Justification” and “Faith”: Catholics, Lutherans, and a North American Baptist's Response to the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification

That the Lutheran World Federation and the Pontifical Council for Unity attempted a joint declaration on the doctrine of justification is worthy of commendation. The resulting Joint Declaration constitutes some of the best contemporary efforts at ecumenical dialogue in the spirit of Christian union. This essay outlines the development of both medieval Catholic and subsequent Protestant conceptions of justification that led to disunion in the Western Church, reviews the initial points of division on the doctrine during the era of the Reformation for the purpose of grasping more fully the ecumenical feat of the JDDJ, and seeks to clarify what issues appear to remain unclear or unresolved in the document. The article also outlines the history of how Baptists in America have understood the doctrine of justification in order to consider how such Baptists might perceive the promise and potential lingering challenges or questions regarding the joint declaration.

The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification: An Outline of its Genesis and Impact From a Baptist’s Perspective

This essay outlines the genesis and impact of the “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification” (JDDJ) from a Baptist perspective. Starting with comparative studies of individual theologians from 1949 to 1980 it sketches the prehistory of the JDDJ including the results of ecumenical dialogues from 1972 to 1994. The essay then presents the origins and contents of the JDDJ from the draft version 1997 to the Signing 1999, including the development and content of the “Official Common Statement.” The author includes as well the impact of JDDJ on the Study on “The Biblical Foundations of the Doctrine of Justification” 2012; the Notre-Dame-Consultation 2019; and ecumenical dialogues on justification with Baptist participation. The author appreciates the JDDJ as the most significant result of ecumenical dialogues since the formation of the ecumenical movement and expresses his hope that the Baptist World Alliance too will assent to the consensus.

The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification and Social Ethics

The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ) developed out of understanding of the doctrine of justification and how that doctrine relates to social ethics. The article briefly describes how the doctrine of justification and sanctification developed in various traditions and how it came to be seen in the liberal theological context of the late 19th century before a corrective in the middle of the 20th century. I examine the way in which the doctrine has been criticised by oppressed persons and how we might respond to those criticisms. Finally, a way forward is suggested that might help us to apply the significant gains of the JDDJ to the whole sphere of social ethics for us here in South Africa.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This paper seeks to integrate the work done by the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification and Systematic Theology from an historical perspective via a literature survey so as to evaluate the JDDJ’s impact on social ethics.

An American Notwithstanding Clause? Between Potestas and Potentia

Debates about judicial review and departmentalism have continued to rage, and in the wake of the last three Supreme Court appointments and current Presidential Commission on the Court, only look to intensify. Should the US adopt a notwithstanding or override provision, of the kind that exits in Canada and Israel? These countries take a departmentalist approach to allow the legislature to override the Court, “notwithstanding” its ruling. Although America is a presidential framework, a paradox emerges: evidence exists that its system already makes possible the equivalent of a notwithstanding clause. This consists of Congress and the President together “overruling” the Supreme Court. In another sense, however, this is not an accepted practice—large parts of the legal community hold that the US Constitution establishes judicial supremacy. To better understand this dynamic, we consider two kinds of power: formal and authorized (potestas) as well as direct and concrete (potentia). The contrast between the positions on both power and sovereignty of Thomas Hobbes (associated with potestas) and Baruch Spinoza (linked to potentia) helps clarify these issues in a contemporary context. It turns out that a robust departmentalist equivalent of the notwithstanding clause already exists in the US, as a matter of Hobbesian potestas but not of Spinozist potentia. Another term for the latter is pouvoir constituant. Spinoza’s perspective on political activity further clarifies the in-between nature of the American override capacity: the active or passive character of a multitude is not binary, but is a matter of degree. Without making an institutional recommendation, we note that Spinoza’s understanding of power also allows for dynamic interaction between potentia and potestas: formal authorization can contribute to the expression of direct power. It is, therefore, conceivable that additional codification of the existing American override capacity, either through a joint declaration of Congress and the Presidency or a Constitutional Amendment, can strengthen the effective sovereignty of the American people in relation to the courts.

Pelaksanaan The Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984 oleh Otoritas RRT Mengenai Pemberian Hak-Hak Otonomi bagi Wilayah Hong Kong

Hong Kong, a special autonomous region within the PRC's constitutional hierarchy, has a long history behind its privileges. It started with the defeat of the Qing Dynasty in a series of Opium Wars which ended with the 156-year rule of Hong Kong by the British which ended in 1997. However, the handover did not come easily. Based on The Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984, an international agreement made by Britain and China regarding the re-acceptance of Hong Kong, it promised Hong Kong to be an autonomous region for 50 years post-1997 except in the field of defence and cooperation with foreign powers. This article seeks to examine the implementation of The Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984 with a literature review method based on the rights it gives to the people of Hong Kong and the reality in daily life. Keywords: Implementation; The Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984; Hong Kong; Autonomy; International Agreement.AbstrakHong Kong yang merupakan sebuah wilayah otonomi khusus dalam hierarki ketatanegaraan RRT memiliki sejarah yang panjang yang melatarbelakangi keistimewaannya. Dimulai dari kekalahan Dinasti Qing dalam rentetan Perang Candu yang berakhir dengan penguasaan Hong Kong oleh Inggris selama 156 tahun yang berakhir pada 1997. Akan tetapi, penyerahan tersebut tidak terjadi dengan mudah. Berdasarkan The Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984, sebuah perjanjian internasional yang dibuat oleh Inggris dan RRT mengenai penerimaan kembali Hong Kong, ia memperjanjikan Hong Kong menjadi wilayah otonom selama 50 tahun pasca-1997 kecuali pada bidang pertahanan dan kerja sama dengan kekuatan asing. Artikel ini berusaha mengkaji penerapan The Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984 dengan metode kajian kepustakaan berdasarkan hak-hak yang diberikannya kepada rakyat Hong Kong dan kenyataannya dalam kehidupan sehari-hari.Kata Kunci: Pelaksanaan; The Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984; Hong Kong; Otonomi; Perjanjian Internasional.

Main Vectors of International Activity of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

During the 1950s and 1980s, the Eastern Catholic Church (sharing the Byzantine tradition) was maintained in countries with a Ukrainian migrant diaspora. In the 1960s, this branched and organized church was formed in the Ukrainian diaspora. It was named the Ukrainian Catholic Church (UCC). The Galician Metropolitan Department was headed by Andriy Sheptytskyi until 1944, and after that Sheptytskyi was preceded by Yosyp Slipiy, who headed it until 1984. In addition to the Major Archbishop and Metropolitan Yosyp, this church included two dioceses (in the United States and Canada), a total of 18 bishops. It had about 1 million believers and 900 priests. The largest groups of followers of the union lived in France, Yugoslavia, Great Britain, Brazil, Argentina, and Australia. Today, the number of Greek Catholics in the world is more than 7 million. The international cooperation of denominations in the field of resolving historical traumas of the past seems to be quite productive. An illustrative example was shared on June 28, 2013. Preliminary commemorations of the victims of the 70th anniversary of the Volyn massacres, representatives of the UGCC and the Roman Catholic Church of Poland signed a joint declaration. The documents condemned the violence and called on Poles and Ukrainians to apologize and spread information about the violence. This is certainly a significant step towards reconciliation between the nations. The most obvious fact is that the churches of the Kyiv tradition—ОCU and UGCC, as well as Protestant churches (All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Churches—Pentecostals, Ukrainian Lutheran Church, German People’s Church)—are in favor of deepening the relations between Ukraine and the European Union. A transformation of Ukrainian community to a united Europe, namely in the European Union, which, in their view, is a guarantee of strengthening state sovereignty and ensuring the democratic development of countries and Ukrainian society.