Opportunities and Challenges of China-Middle East Countries’Production Capacity Cooperation

The Middle East is a region where China has more advantages in production capacity cooperation.China started early and has a good reputation in the area of engineering contracting,which has laid good foundations.At present,the Middle East countries are in an important stage of economic transformation.In order to accelerate industrialization,they have developed long-term economic development plan,which provides an important historical opportunity for Chinese enterprises to establish business there.The production capacity cooperation between China and the Middle East countries will utilize the complementary advantages and adhere to mutually beneficial and win-win spirit,and thus has been welcomed by the Middle East countries.At present,the two sides are carrying out fruitful cooperation in infrastructure,high technology and labor-intensive industries,and have achieved significant results.The production capacity cooperation between China and the Middle East countries are facing both opportunities and challenges.We should make good use of opportunities,prevent and resolve risks,and effectively do a good job in production capacity cooperation between China and the Middle East countries.

China’s Energy Cooperation with Middle East Oil-producing Countries

China is rich in coal, but insufficient in petroleum and gas. The energy shortage is not a general shortage but a structural imbalance. In recent years, China's dependence on foreign oil supplies keeps increasing to meet the needs of China's rapid economic growth. China's top leadership, for this goal, has committed itself to energy diplomacy and vigorously promoted China's energy cooperation with Middle East oil-producing countries. In the current conditions, carrying out energy cooperation with the Middle East oil-producing countries is inevitable and beneficial to China’s security. China and the Middle East oil-producing countries have maintained friendly and cooperative relations: mutual political, economic complementarities and cultural fusion, which create a favorable environment for cooperation for extracting and removing the Middle East oil. As for the problems and difficulties exposed in carrying out energy cooperation in the Middle East, China should bravely face them and seriously resolve them.

China’s Proposition to Build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind and the Middle East Governance

The proposition to build a community of shared future for mankind is a new concept that the Chinese government has advocated after the 18th National Congress of the CPC,aiming to develop a new structure of international relations and upgrade the global governance model.As a Chinese proposition that reflects China’s wisdom,this concept is based on the long-standing cultural tradition and the advanced Chinese ideological system,representing a new perspective for international cooperation and international order and the new concepts of development,security and civilization.This proposition offers the right direction for the ongoing efforts to improve global governance.The governance in the Middle East is a weak link in global governance,but it is a critical factor for improvement.As a rising power,China is playing an increasingly prominent and constructive role in the Middle East governance.China’s proposition to build a community of shared future for mankind and the“Belt and Road”initiative does not only fit very well in the diverse cultural context of the Middle East,but also support the realistic needs of the people there.The proposition,as well as the initiative,will surely drive the improvement of governance in the Middle East and help the region solve issues hindering development and achieve lasting and universal peace.

China’s Non-proliferation Policy and the Implementation of WMD Regimes in the Middle East

The interaction between China and the Middle East on the issue of arms transfer and non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction(WMD)has elicited great concern since the 1980s.It was also during this period that China was accused,primarily by the US,of being involved in WMD-related transfers to the Middle East.The paper examines China’s changing attitudes towards major international non-proliferation regimes and cases of US allegations of China’s exports of WMDs to the Middle East.It argues that China’s stance on abiding by the WMD regimes in the Middle East has been consistent with the principles of diplomacy which emphasizes peace and the pursuit of its good image as a responsible great power.China abides by the international WMD regimes and is seeking more cooperation in non-proliferation with other countries,and its efforts deserve acknowledgement.

Large-Scale Upheaval in the Middle East and China’s Diplomatic Reactions

Arab countries have been faced with a large scale Middle Eastern upheaval,which has attracted the attention of all the Middle Eastern countries and international community.The current situation is primarily related to the important location of the Middle East.Nearly all the Arab countries are involved in the upheaval.Omnifarious appeals are claimed by the people,including political,economic and social aspects.The problems have been accumulating for years,and the Middle East upheaval in 2011 was an overall outburst of people’s dissatisfaction.The cost of the unrest is high despite the social progress it may promote.At present,a fragile peace is realized in Syria though the prospect of future development is unclear.Since the outbreak of the Middle East upheaval,China has adopted a principle of“non-intervention in other’s internal affairs”and“mediating for peace while promoting talks”policy,which is appropriate and proactive.China should adhere to this practice in the future despite the voices of opposition and temporary misunderstanding.

Review and Thoughts over the Relationship between China and the Middle East

The friendly intercourse between China and the Middle East countries,which could be traced back to over 2000 years,may be divided roughly into two periods since the founding of the People’s Republic of China.For the former 30 years,the establishment of diplomatic relations was promoted primarily and actively,through the main means of cooperation and coordination in politics,and the minor means of economic exchanges,trade,business and social culture;while for the latter 30 years,cooperation in the political field mainly deepened,as well as economic exchanges and cooperation,trade and social culture.We should make a systematic strategy for the Middle East in terms of its important role in the world politics and economy.China’s Middle East strategy is not to establish a rigid"model",but a"system of relatively open strategy".This article puts forward a few thoughts,from the perspectives of international politics,national security,economic and financial cooperation and the soft power enhancement.

From A By-stander to A Constructor:China and the Middle East Security Governance

In the 21st century,Middle East conflicts can generally be classified into four types,namely,conflicts between outside powers and Middle East countries,between Middle East countries themselves,between different political parties and religious sects within a sovereign country,as well as transnational and cross-bordering conflicts.The mode of China’s participation in Middle East security governance includes the political,security and social conflicts.There are three categories of domestic mechanisms in Chinese practice,specifically,the special envoy mechanism by Chinese Foreign Ministry,the procession and peace-keeping mechanisms by Chinese Defense Ministry and the foreign aid mechanism by Chinese Ministry of Commerce.The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum,the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation,the UN and other international organizations constitute the major international regimes for China’s security governance.China’s Middle East security governance creates not only“public goods”for the region,but also a means for China to build constructive great power relations with the US,EU and Russia,among others.The styles of Chinese and Western security governance in the Middle East vary,and the Chinese side places more emphasis on improving the Middle East people’s well-being at the top of the agenda,following“up-bottom”roadmap,and seeking an incremental,consultative,inclusive,and selective governance in the Middle East conflict resolution.

The Upheaval in the Middle East and China’s Middle East Policy

Due to more than one-year’s upheaval,many Middle Eastern countries experienced regime change,and Syria is the next target and center of this political swirl.The rise of Islamic force is a serious problem for these countries in transition to deal with.Because of this upheaval,the Middle Eastern configuration is facing challenges;the contradiction within regional powers is experiencing growth and decline.The adjustment of America’s Middle East policy has affected the trend of Middle East situation.China’s“non-interference in others’internal affairs”principle gains international society’s interpretation,and China’s diplomacy towards the Middle East is facing important opportunity and enormous challenges.China should seize the opportunity and seek the new development of China-Middle East relations.

China’s Economic Restructuring and Extension of China’s Middle East Strategy

Joint construction of“the Silk Road Economic Belt”and“the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century”is not only the objective requirement of China’s further economic development and its deepening reform and opening policy,especially its national strategy of“opening to the west”,but also a major historical opportunity for the development of the Asia-Europe countries particularly the Middle East countries.While Chinese economy achieved remarkable development,the economy of the Middle Eastern countries ploughed through the turmoil and fighting.From the point of view of the global economy,the economies of China and of the Middle East countries are at different stages of historical development.This kind of difference just reflected the complementarity in their economic cooperation.The two sides ought to grasp this historical opportunity,use complementary advantages and achieve win-win cooperation.With the status of the Middle East in China’s diplomacy being definitely rising,China’s Middle East strategy should grasp four points of emphasis,such as expansion of the international political space,strengthening of national security,promotion of trade and economic cooperation,and enhancing soft power.

Protecting China’s Energy Interests in the Middle East

In recent years,due to the political unrest in the Middle East,partnership on energy between China and Arab countries has been developing with fluctuations.Although oil and gas trade grew steadily as usual,cooperation in downstream industries,which was affected by the upheavals in the Middle East,was not entirely successful.Regarding energy issues,cooperation between China and the Middle East is the mainstream as China needs oil and gas from the Middle East and the Middle East needs the Chinese market,which is the foundation for bilateral cooperation.As long as the two sides make joint efforts,there must be a breakthrough in energy partnership.

On the Strategic Relationship between China and Islamic Countries in the Middle East

The relationship between China and the Islamic countries has been of strategic significance;mutual understanding and mutual respect in their political ties has been the mainstream in the bilateral relationship.Since the founding of new China,their relationship has undergone two phases:from bilateral to multilateral relations and from mainly in the political field to comprehensive ties in the economic and trade,resources,security,culture and other fields.For future development of bilateral relationships,issues such as misjudgment and misunderstanding,trade imbalance and conflicts of interest must be resolved.To do so,strategic significance must be attached to bilateral relationships so as to uplift the strategic position of the Middle East in the overall Chinese diplomacy,establish a Middle East strategy with Chinese characteristics and strengthen China's cultural diplomacy including religious communication with the Islamic countries in the Middle East.

The Strategic Docking between China and Middle East Countries under the“Belt and Road”Framework

The Middle East is the region bringing together the land and maritime Silk Road,coupled with its unique geographical location and diverse and complex humanitarian,religious and ethnic factors,notably with an increasingly significant role of the energy sector.As an energy-rich zone,it plays a decisive role in the position of international political and economic arena.In the process of building the“Belt and Road”,Chinese government should pay close attention to the role of the Middle East region.This region will also play its rightful role in security coordination,economic cooperation,and cultural exchanges under the“Belt and Road”framework,thus,achieving the strategic docking and win-win cooperation between China and Middle Eastern countries.

Middle East Terrorism,Global Governance and China’s Anti-terror Policy

The anti-terror campaign in the Middle East is the key and influential part of global anti-terror endeavor,which is one of the most challenging global governance issues in the international community.It is closely linked with the transformation of the international system and the reconstruction of the world’s new political and economic order.Within the background of economic globalization,the Middle East Islamic countries are confronted with the problems of promoting reform and development,facilitating institutional reform and social transformation.Internally,the Middle East terrorism originates from the complicated historical,social,religious and ethnic conflicts;externally,the Middle East terrorism hinges on interference,invasion,occupation,and the rival for territory,recourses and interest.China’s anti-terror endeavor aims at protecting its overseas interest and meanwhile,it reflects China’s unique idea and mode of global governance.

Comparative Analysis of China’s Energy Activities in the Middle East and Africa

The Middle East and African oil have now accounted for 70%of China’s total oil imports and will have to be China’s major sources of crude oil imports in the future,which means that Beijing will continue to emphasize its energy requirement activities and to forge closer energy cooperation with both regions.China’s energy activities in the Middle East and Africa have similar trade and investment patterns and also similar risks,the“Oil of Politics”such as the Iranian nuclear crisis and the Sudan/Darfur crisis will be the biggest challenges that Beijing faces in the Middle East and Africa.China’s energy activities in the Middle East are somewhat restrained and moderate,given its limited political influence and the instable geopolitical situations in the region.However,China’s energy requirement activities in Africa by means of energy diplomacy,technological and economic assistance,foreign aid and loans and debt cancellation,have and will continue to expand Beijing’s presence and influence in the region,having different geopolitical implications for Beijing,Africa and the West.

China’s Energy Strategy and Primary Role of the Middle East in This Strategy

In face of challenges to its energy security,China has been making adjustments in its energy policy and energy development strategy since mid-1990s,and implementing a strategy for overseas energy development.Compared with Central Asia,Latin America,Southeast Asia and West Africa,the Middle East is still the major source for China’s overseas energy cooperation and development.To avoid over-dependence on the energy resources in the Middle East,China seeks more overseas energy sources and transportation channels other than those in or connected to the Middle East.However,the primary role of the Middle East in China’s overall strategy for overseas energy development is still irreplaceable by that of any other region,at least for the near future.This situation will surely produce an increasingly important impact on China’s Middle East policy,moving China to take a more active posture in the political and economic arena of the region.It can even be expected that China to maintain its stable and friendly relations with Middle East countries,will,more likely than ever,act as a diplomatic mediator in trying to resolve certain longstanding conflicts in the region.

Development of Sino-Arab Relations and the Evolution of China’s Middle East Policy in the New Era

China and the Arab countries enjoy a long history of friendly exchanges.During the Cold War period,significant accomplishments were achieved in their bilateral political cooperation.Recent years have witnessed the great success of comprehensive cooperation toward mutual benefits within the framework of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum.However,the turbulence in the Middle East and the U.S.Greater Middle East Initiative have emerged as a new challenge to the future development of bilateral relations.Yet China’s Middle East policy has not remained stagnant;its prompt readjustments have brought momentum to the healthy development of Sino-Arab bilateral relations.

Sino-American Relations in the Middle East: Towards A Complementary Partnership?

China pursues geo-economic interests of trade,investment and energy,while the US explores geo-political interests of maintaining regional leadership,launching anti-terrorism campaigns,and defending allies in the Middle East.Notwithstanding all this,the two sides share compatible and complementary interests in the Middle East security governance and conflict de-escalation,which forges structural dynamics for Beijing and Washington to seek common ground while shelving differences.By drawing on detailed analysis of China and the US’s interaction in three cases,including coping with the ISIS threat,addressing the Iran nuclear crisis and mediating the Israel-Palestine conflict,this article argues that driven by pragmatism,it is possible for China and the US to build a complementary partnership in the Middle East,especially in dealing with security challenges in conflict zones,to maximise their respective interests and to alleviate the impact of Sino-US geopolitical rivalry in the Asia-Pacific region.The compatible policy orientations,the intensifying Middle East Cold War in the aftermath of the Arab Spring,and the interdependent nature of Sino-US interests in the Middle East make it vital for China and the US to build a complementary partnership,although they may face various hurdles in its implementation.

Analysis on the Trends of the Middle East Turmoil

The extremist organization“IS”brought additional chaos to the Middle East.It is expected that Egypt will restore order.The main hot spot issues have witnessed some changes but are still hard to solve.The US is the producer of the Middle East turmoil.Internal disputes in the Middle East are still prevalent.China still has great potential to develop the friendship and cooperation with Middle East countries.

The China-Arab States Cooperation Forum:Achievements,Challenges and Prospects

The“China-Arab States Cooperation Forum”is an important cooperation mechanism between the Arab world and China.Though the forum has made remarkable achievements since its establishment,enormous challenges are still ahead.The largest challenge is that both sides have common aspirations for further achievements and integration,and for a closer relationship between China and the Arab World.The real strategic vision is not limited to trade and investment,but also includes security,national defense building,technology transfer and some other fields.To overcome these challenges,three problems must be taken care of.First,the two sides need to deepen their mutual understandings;second,both Chinese and Arabs must get rid of the deep cautiousness towards each other;and third,both parties need to develop a comprehensive outlook from an aspect of civilization.

Analysis on the Potential of Strategic Cooperation between China and OIC under the“Silk Road Strategy”Framework

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has a unique influence in the global governance,such as Middle East issues and International Islamic development,and has become the most active international multilateral platform for Islam.Based on the context of the establishment of the organization and its development process,particularly,the agenda items and resolutions of the organization since 2000,this study clarifies the path of the OIC to advance agenda items and exert political influence on Islamic countries;this study also tracks the history of both official and civil exchanges between China and the OIC,proposes to seize the historic opportunity of the“Silk Road strategy”,and build a model of cooperation between China and the Arab-Islamic countries as the“natural partners of the Silk Road”and the“Silk Road Community”.