丝绸之路文化带:唐朝至元朝时期中阿文化交流与互鉴

中阿关系源远流长,影响深远。很多阿拉伯文和中文史籍文献对唐、宋、元时期的中阿文化交流有丰富的记载。在古代丝绸之路上,阿拉伯人与中国人不仅建立了一条经济带,也构建了一条富有多彩活力的文化带。这条文化带盛于唐,辉煌于两宋,蓬勃发展于元,中阿文化交流在此期间取得了丰硕成果。丝路文化带的繁荣促进了中阿商旅往来与经贸活动,增进了中阿人民的相互了解与民族融合,推动了中阿科学知识与制造技术的双向流动,为东西方的文明对话与和谐共生奠定了基础。在“一带一路”倡议背景下,中国和阿拉伯国家应以史为鉴,深化双边人文交流,加强新时期丝路文化带的建设,以进一步推动“一带一路”沿线国家的和平、稳定与繁荣。

China and the Middle East Economic Governance in New Era

The Middle East Region has been suffering serious economic difficulties and the governance deficit for a long time,which demands a global response.In this new era,China has become an important actor in the progression of the Middle East economic governance;the contents of China’s participation in the Middle East economic governance include energy,trade,investment,finance and developmental governance.Participation of China to the Middle East economic governance has improved economic climate and the terms of trade for the Middle Eastern countries,and enhanced their sustainable development ability,and also responded to the criticism from the Western countries accusing China of being a free rider with real actions.Compared to the Western countries,China’s participation to the Middle East economic governance exhibits its own characteristics in governance goals,ability,path,regime,contents and governance styles.“The Belt and Road”Initiative marks China’s participation in the Middle East economic governance enters new level.The depth and result of China’s participation in the Middle East economic governance are affected by various factors.

GCC Countries Membership in the SCO: Challenges and Prospects

Although the GCC(Gulf Cooperation Council)countries are geographically in Asia,they are closely connected to the US and the West in terms of their strategic alignment.The focus of their relations with Asian countries has been on matters related directly to oil and the liquefied natural gas(LNG)trade and investment.They do not participate in most of the regional organizations in Asia(whether in East Asia or in South and Southeast Asia),whereas some other Middle Eastern countries,such as Turkey,Iran and Israel,are active in these organizations.Even after 2013 when the big shift in the structure of international trade occurred and when,for the first time,China replaced the European Union as the GCC’s main trade partner,they still showed little interest in political/strategic links with Asian countries.The author believes that,although it is important that the GCC countries maintain strong relations with Western countries,they should also strengthen their political,security and cultural ties with Asian countries.This would cohere with their strategic interests in the emerging global order.They should initiate such a move by endeavouring to build strong relations with the regional organizations(security,economic and political)in Asia,such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO).These organizations can serve as stepping-stones to developing closer relations with the states of the region.The mission of the SCO,in particular,aligns well with the interests of the GCC,because it covers a wide range of issues which are of concern to GCC countries such as security and stability,energy,economic cooperation,combating terrorism and extremism,conflict resolution,disaster management,civilizational and religious dialogue and combating epidemics.This article discusses the importance of the SCO to the Gulf countries and explores the reasons why they have so far kept aloof from the organization.Possible challenges arising from cooperation will also be covered.The article concludes with some recommendations for how cooperation between the SCO and the GCC could be developed.