ЭНЕРГЕТИЧЕСКИЙ ПЕРЕХОД И ГЕОПОЛИТИКА

Переход мировой энергетики на возобновляемые источники энергии меняет геополитическое значение как стран-экспортеров ископаемого топлива, так и государств- импортеров. Перекраивается энергетическая карта мира, меняется география и структура поставок энергии. Коренным образом меняется и сущность энергетической безопасности.

ICT AND ITS USE IN THE TAX ADMINISTRATION OF THE SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES

The article shows the level of ICT development in the Southeast Asian countries, the measures of the governments of these countries for introducing of ICT into tax administration and implementation of ICT for tax payments. According to the author, the panorama of the use of electronic means for tax payments is ambiguous and is determined by a number of economic and social factors. Three groups of countries were accurately designated. The first group consists of technologically developed countries of the region where modern means of tax payments very actively used. The second group consists of less technologically developed countries, where scope of ICT is incomparably narrow. The third group of countries consists of the least developed countries where the tax administration just begins to use ICT.

GLOBAL ENERGY SECURITY

This article analyzes the problem of energy security as a factor of global sustainable development. The energy sector faces new challenges, as well as expanding opportunities for both developed and developing countries. The global nature of energy security increasingly requires the formation of an international energy strategy that allows us to look into the common energy future, and the further development of a broad dialogue on energy issues between various countries and relevant international organizations. The relevance of this article is of interest to the entire energy community. The problem and the main components of energy security are in the field of view of summits, attract the attention of various international forums, and its solution is interlinked with sustainable development, climate change and the environment.

Pakistan-French Relations in the 21st Century

The article discusses the political, economic and cultural cooperation of Pakistan with France in the twenty-first century. Attention is drawn to a peculiar bias towards France in the frequency of political and diplomatic visits by representatives of Pakistan. Due to the fact that France is a traditional donor of the Pakistani economy, attention is drawn to the desire of the parties to increase the role of public diplomacy in the development of trade and economic relations. Meanwhile, France is Pakistan’s long-standing export partner, one of the top ten countries in which Pakistan exports its goods. The importance of developing such areas of cooperation as energy and transport is emphasized. Military-technical cooperation is singled out as a traditional area of cooperation between Pakistan and France. The role of France in the creation and development of the naval forces of Pakistan is indicated. The complicated relations between countries on the issue of nuclear cooperation are shown. The article also discusses security issues, namely, current bilateral documents, joint efforts to combat terrorism, and there gime of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons are presented. Interaction in the field of culture is presented on the example of the work of the three centers of the French public organization Alliance de Frances. Separately, attention is drawn to the interaction of state structures of the two countries regarding the return of relics illegally exported from Pakistan. In conclusion, it is concluded that Pakistan’s orientation towards France is quite justified, since this European state has always been friendly to it, is powerful in its economic potential and resources, and the development of relations with this country does not conflict with the orientation towards the United States.

ROADS OF CENTRAL ASIA. THE NEW INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT PROJECTS

The development of international trade implies the use of the territory of Central Asia as a transit zone, through which the routes China–Europe, China – the middle East should be laid. The existing communication capabilities are not enough, so new directions are being developed (Railways “China–Kazakhstan – Turkmenistan–Iran”, “Turkmenistan– Afghanistan–Tajikistan”, ”China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan”; multimodal transit corridors” Lazurit”,” TRANS – Caspian international transport route”; such highways as “Western China– Western Europe”). However, paved roads, both rail and road, do not always meet expectations in terms of the volume of cargo passing through them (projects “China – Kazakhstan – Turkmenistan – Iran” and the Lapis lazuli corridor). Their loading is delayed “until better times” either due to the unstable political background, or due to the lack of necessary commodity flows in both directions. In some cases, there is a lack of political will to make appropriate decisions. Finished projects are unprofitable. None of the international transit projects announced or even completed over the past 20 years through the Central Asian republics has been fully operational. Meanwhile, international transit allows not only to fill the state budget, but also to solve issues of internal connectivity of territories. This task is most relevant today for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which have become hostages of their own geography, with localities separated by impassable mountain ranges.

ASIAN MARITIME TRANSPORT IN ASIA: A BRIEF STATISTICAL ESSAY

The article describes the state of the Asian merchant marine fleet as of 2018. The main trends of international Maritime trade are described, the composition of the fleet by types of vessels is characterized, and the main directions of trade by groups of goods transported by different types of vessels are shown. The transition of leadership in tonnage from tankers to bulk carriers is revealed, due to the reduction of the role of oil in sea transportation and the formation of flows of raw materials and coal for the ferrous metallurgy to China. The largest container ports in the world are shown, among which East Asian ports predominate. Two leading flag of convenience countries in Asia have been identified – Hong Kong and Singapore. In the global shipbuilding industry, three East Asian countries – China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea – account for 90 % of ship production.

TRANSPORT SECTOR IN MONGOLIA

A general review of the Mongolia’s transport sector’s development in 2000– 2019, including road, railway, civil air, water transport sub-sectors, main indicators of transport by types, new big projects are described. Mongolia’s transit transport facilities between Russia and China, as well as between East Asia and Europe are increasing. An economic corridor Russia- Mongolia- China is under construction. A Russian- Mongolian special purpose joint venture to be established for feasibility study of main gas pipeline from Russia to China across Mongolia.

JAPAN: IS THERE A CHANCE TO INCREASE AGRICULTURAL COMPETITIVENESS? (analyzing statistics)

Given the expanding needs of the global food market, it is not surprising that the Japanese are trying hard to make their agriculture sector competitive n the global market. The article discusses the current situation in agriculture and the potential for its further development, most of all, the situation with the cultivated area and labor force. The results of government measures taken to increase the efficiency of production, a change in its structure, and increase in the value of hired labor, changes in the forms of production participants themselves are shown: along with rural yards with small land allotments, sometimes various associations appear; in other words, the pattern of development of the agricultural sector is gradually changing. But to achieve this goal there are still many obstacles administrative economic, social.

CURRENT STATE OF PAKISTAN’S ECONOMY

The article analyzes the situation in Pakistan’s economy under the new government of the country, formed after the parliamentary elections in July 2018. It is observed that in 2018–2020 the rates of economic growth have slowed considerably. The government has faced problems of acute fiscal and current account deficits and was forced to agree to large doses of foreign financial assistance. The economic situation by the beginning of 2020 has somewhat improved, but the dependence of the economy on external factors remains, causing risks which do not allow to argue that the crisis and stagnation would be overcome in the nearest future.

CHANGING GEO-POLITICAL DYNAMICS AND RUSSIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS

The article examines the common tendency of the regional integration in the foreign policies of Russia and Pakistan marked by the enhancement of their bilateral relations in the rapidly changing global and regional environment. Their cooperation has been gradually reaching a new level of mutually beneficial partnership as a reflection of Moscow and Islamabad recent involvement in the undertaken formation of the joint economic and security structure of the emerging Greater Eurasia.