3 Significance and Path for In-depth Studies on Cooperation in Central Asia

ZengXianghong

9 Framework Changes and Development Prospects of Central Asian Integration

Abstract: The development of sub-regional integration is offected deeply by the region situation. Sub-regional countries, regional countries and extraterritorial countries serve as the main players in the integration process. Theoretically,sub-regional integration follows two goals and logics of “seeking survival”and “pursing development”. Under the logic of “pursuing development”, sub-regional integration runs ahead of regional integration from the perspective of maturity, and can maintain survival and set the pace for regional integration through sub-regional development.Under the logic of “seeking survival”, sub-regional integration is outpaced by regional integration from the perspective of maturity.In order to avoid “being merged” by regional integration, it is advised to seek survival by uniting sub-regional countries, introducing new regional countries or leveraging the power of extraterritorial countries. While China become an Eurasian Countries, the external framework of Central Asian integration is reversed. Central Asian countries maintain solidarity and carry out cooperation, and make the best of the strengths of new regional country(i.e., China) and extraterritorial countries to seize the room for development of sub-regional integration in Central Asia. The development prospects of Central Asian integration depends on the logic application of “seeking survival” and the solutions to specific problems in Central Asian countries.

Keywords: sub-regional integration,regional integration, framework changes,Central Asia, Eurasia

AbouttheAuthor: Gu Wei is Associate Research Professor at the Institute of International Relations, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

GuWei

31 The Institutional Design of Eurasian Economic Union and the Modes and Paths for Synergy of “The Belt and Union”

Abstract: Eurasian Economic Union is an important institutional arrangement for regional integration. As a result of institutional design, Eurasian Economic Union is confronted with the challenges from a complex relationship between institutional legitimacy and effectiveness in the development course. This complex relationship not only restricts the development of Eurasian Economic Union, but also offects behaviors of Eurasian Economic Union. China and Eurasian Economic Union member countries have formed “5+1”Mode (“Eurasian Economic Union + China”) and five separate “1+1” modes (“China + Members of Eurasian Economic Union”) in the practice of engagement with “The Belt and Union”. The“5+1” mode explores the construction paths from the economic and trade agreement to the free trade zone, while the “1+1” mode developes the construction paths from project cooperation to engagement of national development strategy. Both mode and path have laid a solid foundation for engagement of “The Belt and Union”.

Keywords: Eurasian Economic Union, institutional design,“The Belt and Union”, modes, paths

AbouttheAuthor: Wei Jinshen is Associate Professor at the School of Politics and International Relations, Lanzhou University.

WeiJinshen

47 Studies on Reasons and Effects of Signature of The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea

Abstract: Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Caspian coastal countries have fallen into incessant debates over the legal status and the division of the Caspian Sea for more than 20 years. The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, signed at the Summit of the Caspian States(the so-called “Caspian five” countries)on August 12, 2018,puts an end to this situation temporarily. The signing of The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea results from the compromises among the Caspian Sea countries under the new situations. The signature of this Convention not only lays a legal foundation for the establishment of a new system in the Caspian Sea region, but also will play an important role in the stability of the Caspian Sea region, the development and export of oil and gas resources and the maintenance of global energy security. Although the signature of this Convention demonstrates important positive significance, this Convention still implies some ambiguities on some key issues, such as the absence of specific and clear-cut dispute settlement solutions, the ambiguity of division rules for seabed and seafloor, etc. In conclusion, the signature of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea is of great significance, but it is not enough to resolve the Caspian Sea issue once and for all.

Keywords: The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, summit of the Caspian states, Caspian resource development, regional stability, global energy security

AbouttheAuthor: Zhou Ming is Associate Professor at the Institute of Central Asian Studies and School of Politics and International Relations, Lanzhou University; Zhai Huasheng is a graduate student at the School of Politics and International Relations, Lanzhou University.

ZhouMing,ZhaiHuasheng

RegionalStudies

70 Northeast Asian Cooperation in the background of profound Changing World: Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract: The direction of Northeast Asian regional cooperation is currently an important issue in the background of profound changing world. As an important world economic center, the frontline of game between great powers and the core region of global geopolitics, Northeast Asia is characterized by complicated historical and national profiles,turbulent situations and long-standing intervention of extraterritorial forces, which present many specialties, sensitivities and risks. Northeast Asia should address some major issue: How to say goodbye to gloomy history, resolve the actual contradictions and conflicts, reshape the regional peace order and security relations and promote the building of “A Community of Shared Future for Mankind” in Northeast Asia. The great changes of the current world inevitably sweeps Northeast Asia and brings about major opportunities and challenges to regional cooperation. At present, the calls for peace has been louder, dialogues and exchanges have increased, and the atmosphere for cooperation has gradually turned for the better in Northeast Asia. A prelude to the re-establishment of regional order and security relations slowly resounds. China, Japan and ROK are promoting the construction of China-Japan-ROK Free Trade Area vigorously, thereby giving new impetuses for mutually benefit and win-win cooperation in Northeast Asia. However, dark side is still exposed by Northeast Asia against changing backdrop. There is an arduous and long way to promote regional cooperation and development of Northeast Asia.

Keywords: Northeast Asia, strength comparison, regional cooperation, strategic mutual trust

AbouttheAuthor: Zhou Xisheng is Senior Professor specializing in humanities and social sciences and Co-president of Institute of Cultural Media and International Strategy, Southeast University.

ZhouXisheng

90 A Comparative Analysis on Enlargement Process of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Under the “Two-key Approach”

Abstract: To date, five rounds of enlargement of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) has been achieved. In addition to the general conditions, every candidate country must also comply with “two-key approach”. In other words,every candidate country must at first obtain the support within its region, and then obtain the unanimous consent of all members of ASEM. In this process, EU and ASEAN play a key role in deciding on new membership. The entire enlargement process of ASEM can fall into three different categories: The first category is the membership admission of the respective EU members and ASEAN members. The second category is the process that Asian and European countries beyond the traditionally dominant regions of the EU and ASEAN join ASEM. The third category is the process that other countries with ambiguous regional identity join ASEM. Although ASEM is no longer a small-scale forum between the EU and the East Asia as both blocs, the EU and ASEAN have always been committed to maintaining the interregional characteristics of ASEM. In recent years, although ASEM has significantly slowed the pace of enlargement, under the new situation of Asia-Europe connectivity, a new enlargement process with more clear-cut directions and more distinct goals is worth looking forward to.

Keywords: Asia-Europe Meeting,enlargement process, two-key approach, EU, ASEAN

AbouttheAuthor: Zhu Tianxiang is Assistant to Dean and Associate Professor at the School of International Relations, Sichuan International Studies University.

ZhuTianxiang

108 The Diplomatic Strategies of the Pacific Island Countries under the Perspective of Small States Studies

Abstract: There has been much research on the diplomatic strategies of small states, but still little on that of the Pacific Island Countries (PICs). This paper starts by investigating the particularity of PICs and concludes that “small islands, big ocean” constitutes the basic characteristics of the PICs. By the three case studies on the internal reform and institutional competition within Pacific Islands regional organizations, regional fishery cooperation and climate politics, this paper studies how the PICs avoid the weakness while take the advantages, maximize their interests through three specific diplomatic strategies, which are “number advantage card”, “maritime rights card” and “multi-layered regimes card” Thus, the PICs’ diplomatic strategies reflect not only the generality of small states diplomacy, but also the particularity of the Pacific Islands Region.

Keywords: Pacific Island countries, diplomatic strategy, maritime rights, climate politics, institutional competition

AbouttheAuthor: Chen Xiaochen is Director of the International Studies Department at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China, and Visiting Research Fellow at Research Center for Pacific Island Countries, Liaocheng University.

ChenXiaochen

China’sDiplomacy

132 Insights into the Synergy Between “the Belt and Road” and the Development Strategies of Hub Countries along “The Belt and Road” in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract: Central and Eastern Europe is an important subregion along “The Belt and Road”. Poland, located at the “crossroads” in Europe, is a hub country along “The Belt and Road” in northern part of Central and Eastern Europe. To promote the synergy between “The Belt and Road”Initiative and Poland’s “Responsible Development Strategy”, it is advised to exert great efforts for investment cooperation in high-tech fields, cooperation in infrastructure construction and cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries. Greece, which has many natural top-class ports and shipping advantages, is a hub country along “The Belt and Road” in southern part of Central and Eastern Europe. The synergy between China and Greece’s development strategy calls for profound cooperation in three key fields, i.e., transportation, energy and communications. Overall considerations to four priorities are made for the synergy between China and development strategies of hub countries along “The Belt and Road” in Central and Eastern Europe: promoting Poland and Greece to respectively serve as land and sea “hubs” of connectivity across the Eurasia; outreaching Chinese investments and commodities to European market with the help of hub countries along “The Belt and Road” in Central and Eastern Europe; addressing the challenges for China, Poland and Greece in terms of economic cooperation; eliminating the EU’s resistance to China’s grand development blueprint related to hub countries along “The Belt and Road” in Central and Eastern Europe.

Keywords: “The Belt and Road”, Central and Eastern Europe, hub countries along “The Belt and Road”, synergy with development strategies

AbouttheAuthor: Hao Kun is Assistant Professor at College of Foreign Languages, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology.

HaoKun