The Global High-Speed Railway Construction and Its Geopolitical Implications

Construction of a high-speed railway linking Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America is not the far-fetched dream of visionaryscience fiction writers, but a serious proposal that will profoundly impact international relations. Especially as it will affect China＇s relationship with the outside world, discussion of the “internationalization” of high-speed rail transportation is being led from the advanced position of China＇s well-regarded achievements in linking major cities by rail. Certainly, global geopolitics and traditional geopolitical theories will undergo revolutionary changes as cooperative planning proceeds.     

Impact of the Chinese Model in Africa

The Chinese model has a fairly big influence in Africa. Ever since reform and opening-up, China has been focusing on the central task of economic construction, which brought rapid economic growth, strengthening comprehensive national power, improving lives of the people and extending international influence. The success of the Chinese model has aroused much interest in the world, especially Africa, and produced positive effects. It is the outcome of a combination of several factors, such as the attraction of China＇s development, the impetus produced by that development and the appeal of China＇s friendly policies. Nevertheless, China is not going to sell its model and ultimately Africa has to carve out its own way of development.     

China＇s Relations with Africa： Building a Harmonious World

The Sino-African relationship is one of the most important inter-continental relationships in the world. It is unique both in its origin and evolution and plays an important role on the world stage. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in the mid-1950s, traditional, friendly and cooperative relations between China and African countries have developed rapidly, reaching an historic high in 2000 when both sides proclaimed the establishment of a new type of strategic partnership. Transcending Western traditional value and logic of thinking, such as the supremacy of international interests and power control, Sino-African relations have created a new model in international relations, featuring equality, peaceful coexistence and friendly cooperation. This promotes African development and the democratization process in both international relations and the global community. From China＇s perspective, it spreads China＇s idea of harmonious culture and harmonious diplomacy, thus promoting world peace and development, and contributing towards building a harmonious world.     

The Role of FOCAC in the Development of Africa

China-Africa cooperation in the modern time started after the inauguration of China-Africa relations in 1956. At that time, the focus of cooperation was in the political area, with China supporting the movement of national independence of Africa and Africa supporting China＇s cause of unification. From 1978 to 1999, with great changes in both China and Africa, China-Africa cooperation entered the second phase. China had begun to implement the policy of reform and opening up, and African countries had moved from seeking national independence to developing national economy.     

Political Science in China： the Domestic Scene and a World Vision

Since the reforms of 1979, the subjects of China＇s political science studies have seen remarkable development. The article attempts a qualitative analysis of the progress made in the main fields of China＇s political science studies during the last decade. It deals with theories of international relations, research into strategy and security, international political economics, theories of comparative politics, China＇s local governance etc. There is still a wide gap between the subjects of China＇s political science studies and those in the rest of the world. China＇s academic circles should do more to air domestic issues and questions in the international academic arena.     

Congratulations on the 50~(th) Anniversary of the Beginning of Diplomatic Relations between China and African Countries

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of diplomatic relations between China and African countries. Over the past half a century, with the joint efforts by the leaders and peoples of China and Africa, the friendship between China and Africa has been increasingly consolidated and the relations between the two sides have grown to a new high. In November this year, the Beijing Summit and the Third Ministerial Meeting of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum will be held in Beijing to discuss the further strengthening of the relations and cooperation between China and Africa. To commemorate these historic events, the current issue of this Journal is bringing out four articles with regard to Sino-African relations and the situation in Africa to share with our readers.     

Our Friend or Foe? Exploring CommonGrounds for China-Africa Relations

China’s presence in Africa has a long history of cordial interaction spanning from ancient to contemporary times.The history of China-Africa relations is held in high esteem by the two sides,as both share a history of foreign invasions and of solidarity for a common destiny.However,new narratives promoted by antagonists of China’s presence in Africa are constructed to portray China in a negative light without recourse to history.Arguably,the Chinese exploration of Africa can be said to have started many centuries before the arrival of Europeans on the continent.     

The Role of Africa in China＇s Rise

Africa plays an important role in China＇s rise. Sino-African ties bolsters up Chinese influence. African enthusiasm for taking a leaf from China＇s experience to shake off poverty has boosted China＇s soft power. Africa defends China as a responsible partner against Western slander of practicing neocolonialism. Africa provides China with the driving force for sustainable development. Africa supports China＇s national unification and demonstrates political solidarity with China. In recent years Africa＇s success in enhancing collective strength through deepening solidarity has won admiration and respect. Its strategic status is on a steady rise. It is our sincere hope that Africa will walk on the road of prosperity as soon as possible.     

FOCAC:A Powerful Engine for the Continued Development of Friendship between China and Africa

This year of 2010 witnesses the 10th anniversary of the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation （FOCAC）, which has provided a solid platform for further development of Sino-African traditional friendship and ushered in a new period of China-Africa cooperation in all fields. This article highlights the most prominent achievements of FOCAC over the past three years, which hopefully will enable the readers to better understand China＇s recent engagement with Africa.     

International IPR Protection System and China＇s Answer

The current international system for the protection of intellectual property rights （IPR） with the Agreement on Trade- Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights （TRIPS） at its core has its positive contents and functions and at the same time many defects and drawbacks. In recent years disputes over IPR have become a hot issue in the relations between China and Western countries particularly the United States, and have, to a certain degree, affected the normal development of China＇s relations with other countries in the world. Admittedly, it is due, to a certain extent, to China＇s imperfect legal system for intellectual property rights, but at the same time it is also attributable to the deficiencies of the current international IPR protection system.     

China Studies in Brussels

The China studies program emerging in Brussels, the heart of European Union （EU）, is the natural outcome of China＇s newly established prominence on the world stage. Brussels＇ China studies, compared with China studies in America and European countries, is unique. Knowing the history and the development of the current status of China studies in Brussels, we can do better in promoting not only China studies there, but also improve EU-China relations through Brussels＇ universities and institutes.     

非洲安全新挑战及其对中非合作的影响（英文）

The changes in African security environment not only affect the development of African countries,but also have major implications for China-Africa relations.Given its increasing interests on the continent,China should actively participate in African security governance,safeguard its legitimate rights and interests in Africa,and promote Africa’s peace and stability.     

China-Central Asia ＂Twin-Track＂ Energy Cooperation

China＇s large-scale investment in Kazakh oil and gas resource development ushered in a new era of China-Kazakhstan bilateral trade in the late 1990s. This lifted cooperation between China and the five countries in Central Asia to a new level, opening the China-Central Asia energy channel and bringing the ＂Silk Road economic belt＂ into being. Central Asia and China＇s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, areas which are both abundant in renewable energy, should fully utilize their geopolitical advantages as neighbors by means of Xinjiang＇s rapid growth. Projecting a twin-track mechanism of developing both renewable and non-renewable energy resources is of great significance to both China and Central Asia.     

Sino-US Energy Relations and the Third Party Factor

The United States is the most developed country in the world and the number one energy-importing country. China is the largest developing country and the number two energy-importing country. The energy issue is thus a key issue in Sino-US Relations. The United States has been on bad terms with some energy-rich ＂problem countries＂, while the energy cooperation between China and these countries is starting to go well. Sino-US relations now affect the whole world, and China＇s and the United States＇ relations with these key energy producers--the ＇third party factor＇ may become a major source of competition and conflict between the two powers.     

Beijing Summit Promotes Sino-African Relations

Since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2000, China-Africa relations have entered a new period of cooperation. 2006 not only consolidated friendship between China and Africa, but also laid a sound foundation for more prosperous Sino-African relations.     

Beijing Summit Promotes Sino-African Relations

Since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2000, China-Africa relations have entered a new period of cooperation. 2006 not only consolidated friendship between China and Africa, but also laid a sound foundation for more prosperous Sino-African relations.     

China is the Light and Hope for New Africa

正Friendship between China and Africa started slowly after a general meeting between Africa and Asia,the conference of Bun dung in 1955.Egypt was the first African country to have diplomatic relations with China in 1956,and later at the beginning of1960 the ten African countries followed.At the end of the 1970s a total of 44 countries out of 50 that were free also joined in diplomatic relations with     

Prospects for Sino-Russian Relations and China＇s National Interests in the Next Decade

The next 5-10 years will be a pivotal period in which China will implement its ＂ 11 th Five-Year Plan＂ and accelerate its construction of ＂ a moderately prosperous society.＂ It will also be an important period for Russia＇s resurgence. Sino-Russian relations are therefore facing new challenges and will be steadily developing. Under these new circumstances, clearly defining China＇s national interests in Sino-Russian relations will be an important prerequisite of ensuring the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations and of safeguarding China＇s peace and security. For the foreseeable future, China＇s national interests in Sino- Russian relations will be the further consolidation of mutual trust between the two countries and increasing Sino-Russian security cooperation so as to maintain peace and security in China ＇s northern border areas. As the two countries are both in a phase of social transformation, they can nevertheless learn from each other throughout this process. China will continue promoting diversity of cultures and the multi-polarization of world. China should also exploit Sino-Russian economic cooperation and try to frame a joint strategy with Russia in order to achieve common development and prosperity. Consequently, the two countries will be able to march forward side by side along the path of economic reforms and structural adjustment.＂ In the 21st Century, China and Russia not only need to maintain a good neighbor relationship and guarantee their joint security, but also build a closer cooperation in their common development.     

An Analysis of China's Power Status and International Standing

Many Chinese scholars have described China as the world＇s second biggest power after the U.S.. This is based on two facts. First, China overtook Japan in total economic output measured by GDP in 2010 to become the world＇s second biggest economy. Some scholars argue that China still lags behind the U.S. in comprehensive national power and in this sense it is also ranked second） The other is that Sino-U.S. relations are frequently described as the rise and fall of big powers, especially when referring to the Asia-Pacific region. It is the latest example of how relations between a rising power and one struggling to maintain its status have been so complex in the long history of international relations. While many people talk about the possibility that China will overtake the U.S. in the future, others talk about a G2.2 If we look closely at global trends and changes to China＇ s international environment, if we examine what exactly we mean by power status, we will have a much deeper understanding of China＇ s current power status from which we can build a solid foundation for this country＇ s foreign strategy and diplomacy.     

Building Friends Nearby： Chinas Economic Relations with Neighboring Countries

Peripheral diplomacy tops China＇s overall diplomatic layout. Economic diplomacy has also increasingly become an importantpart of Chinese diplomacy. Therefore, it is of important strategic significance to promote economic diplomacy in the surrounding areas. For China, now is a conflict-prone period in relations with its neighboring countries, a sensitive time of American rebalancing to Asia Pacific and a period of development bottlenecks in the peaceful rise of China. It is an important strategic issue for China to figure out how to join neighboring countries to achieve an inclusive growth and symbiotic development, to translate its economic influence in the surrounding areas into political influence, and to better safeguard national interests and improve diplomatic influence.