China-Australia Minerals and Energy Cooperation:Status Quo,New Features and Suggestions

Minerals and resources trade and investment play a pivotal role in economic and trade relations between China and Australia.In recent years,although China-Australia political relations have been at a low point,China?Australia minerals and energy cooperation has exhibited a different trend to that of political relations,and also from the engagement during previous periods.Minerals and energy trade has increased steadily,while investment is becoming more difficult,particularly for large projects.There has been a clear green transition in trade and investment in this functional area,and uncertainty has increased due to the influence of factors such as the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI),the shale gas revolution and China-US trade disputes.Because this is one of the pillars for economic growth for both countries,and for their trade and investment ties,and because of the importance of low-carbon transition,the free trade system,and global and regional governance,minerals and energy cooperation can serve as a platform for improving and promoting bilateral relations.It has been suggested that China should seize the opportunity to improve bilateral relations by deepening two-way investment,joining hands with Australia on developing more products in more areas,and with new cooperation models.This research will be significant for understanding the status quo of China-Australia cooperation in minerals and energy,and for improving bilateral relations,and even international energy governance.     

Energy Development in South Asia and China- South Asia Energy Cooperation

In South Asia, most countries are heavily dependent on energy imports as a result of poor natural endowment, weak exploration capacity and fast economic development. However, being close neighbor to China, the South Asia serves as the corridor for China＇s energy imports and the transit region for China＇s oil and gas pipelines. It is in China＇s strategic interests to conduct energy cooperation with the South Asian countries.     

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-Russia Relations Towards Comprehensive and Strategic Cooperation

The Sino-Russia relation is a kind of new state-relationship,which is based on the long-term political,economic and security interests of the people of two countries.Mutual respect,equality,and mutual benefit are the basis of this relationship.China and Russia should strengthen regional cooperation and cultural exchanges so that the bilateral relations can be consolidated further.President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia opens up new opportunities for pragmatic cooperation between China and Russia.     

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.     

Energy Security in China-EU Relations： Framing Further Efforts of Collaboration

I. Introduction Energy was not a significant concern for either contemporary China or Western European countries to formally re-connect with each other after 1971, the year of tectonic change in Chinas pursuit of economic and political relations with the rest of the world. Yet, it did not take long for energy to feature as a substantive issue area for Sino-European diplomatic interactions. The China-EEC trade and economic cooperation agreement, signed in 1985, covered industry, agriculture, science, energy, transportation, environmental protection and development aid. It needs to be noted, though, that it was not until 1988 for China and the EEC to exchange permanent diplomatic missions, a necessary instrument for enforcing cooperation agreements.     

Global Strategies for Addressing Climate Change

Clirnate security, which bears on the development of all countries and the survival of mankind, has become a hot issue, arousing great concern and extensive attention from the international community. To curb the increasing aggravation of greenhouse effect, China and other countries are taking initiative to take counter-measures and actions. However, little progress has been made in the international cooperation in this respect as developed countries are reluctant to take steps to address the problem. It is a long-term, arduous task to address the global warming.     

The Energy Cooperation between China and India in the Post-crisis Era

In recent years, both China and India have paid great attention to the energy security issue. As they are both big energy consumers and importers, launching energy cooperation between China and India is mutually beneficial. Cooperation between the two countries should stick to the following principles： strengthening communication; avoid unnecessary conflict; advancing technical exchange and jointly promoting the stability of the world energy market.     

High-tech Interest Groups in the United States and Its Political Influence

Representing the appeals of its industry,the high-tech interest group has recently become an emerging political force in the United States.With abundant financial resources and proficiency in political communication,the group rapidly grows to be a significant force in the American political sphere.It has started to affect the internal and foreign affairs of the U.S.and played a proactive role in the latest presidential election.Since the high-tech interest group has already become and will continue to be a big player in Sino-U.S.relations,China should carefully deal with its appeals and conflict of interests,and try to develop this group into a stabilizer between the two countries.     

Enhance China-Japan Cooperation in Energy-saving and Environmental Protection

Under the background of spreading international financial crisis, it is highly necessary to enhance China-Japan cooperation, especially in the fields of energy saving.and environmental protection. Japan is a developed country and has accumulated a lot of technology and experience in energy saving and environmental protection, which can serve as references for developing countries like China. Therefore, there is great potential for China and Japan to step up cooperation in this area.     

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.     

Sino-U.S.Drug Control Cooperation： Process,Limits and Strategic Choices

Asia＇s Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent are two of the world＇s largest drug-producing areas.They make about 90% of the world＇s opium—Afghanistan alone accounts for about 74% （2012）.1 Illicit drugs production and trafficking in Asia pose a serious threat to China and the U.S..In recent years,China and the U.S.have been working closer to deal with this threat.Their cooperation,however,has not always been smooth.     

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.     

Challenges and Opportunities in Development Cooperation Between China and Traditional Donors in Africa

Cooperation between China and traditional donors in Africa is a part of new triangular mode of development bringing together three parties:traditional donors,emerging donors,and the beneficiary countries.Traditional donors and emerging donors act together in favor of and in cooperation with beneficiary countries.Triangular development cooperation is an extension of classical North-South and South-South cooperation.As yet,it does not feature prominently in the global development cooperation architecture.China’s emergence as a significant contributor of development aid to Africa,however,has now become a hot topic in China,Africa and the West,and questions are being raised about the way in which China and the traditional donors will engage with each other in Africa.This article argues that while China and the traditional donors face a number of challenges,there is potential for the two parties to implement further cooperation in Africa.     

欧俄能源合作中的大国博弈

At present,the European Union,the United States and Russia are engaged in some political jousting over energy resourcing between Europe and Russia based on their different interests and geostrategic orientation.The US and Europe share similar geopolitical interests,while Europe and Russia share economic interests in energy cooperation,and this dichotomy will have a major impact on the evolving trilateral relations among the EU,the US and Russia.Therefore,it is necessary to deepen our analysis of the major-power contention in EU-Russia energy cooperation and study its influence and future trend.     

Latin American Regional Integration Progresses Steadily

With growing globalization, regional integration has witnessed a new round of development with a strong momentum. In recent years, in Latin America, a region that started regional integration earliest among the developing countries, regional integration has been advancing steadily. All kinds of regional and sub-regional cooperation organizations have been strengthening dialogue and exchanges in the political, economic, trade, energy, financial and other fields. Regional cooperation is further enhanced. Latin American integration is in a period of relatively sound development.     

China’s Participation in Groups of Developing Countries

Groups of developing countries are playing increasing important role in global economic governance. As China has now become a member of such groups like G20 and "BRICS", it should make good use of its new identity to explore new markets and promote more Sino-European and South-South cooperation, so as to gradually reduce its current over-dependence on the U.S.A.     

People-to-People Exchange and Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind

In major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics for the new era,people-to-people exchange,political and security cooperation,and economic cooperation are the three pillars of China’s foreign policy.With a people-centered approach as its core,people-to-people exchange focuses on equality and mutual learning and aims at achieving win-win cooperation.Promoting people-to-people exchange is vital to cement the social foundation and public support for China’s foreign relations and promote a higher level of opening-up.1 As pointed out in the 19th CPC National Congress report,in handling relations among civilizations,estrangement should be replaced with exchange,clashes with mutual learning,and superiority with coexistence.Deepening people-to-people exchange is of major theoretical and practical importance to building a community with a shared future for mankind.     

Multilateral Cooperation and Bilateral Alliance

Around 2030, the bilateral alliance system dominated by the United States and the multilateral cooperation system advocated by China will exist side by side in East Asia. China should actively advocate multilateral diplomacy and make great efforts to advance multilateral cooperation over the next 20 years. In the author＇s opinion, there are four options for China to accommodate these two systems： first, China should gradually promote its own concept of the international system; second, China should propose a new theory of leadership in multilateral institutionalism; third, China should develop common interests between China and US-led alliances; fourth, China should seek to establish of a linking mechanism for the two systems in East Asia.     

Another ＂Complementarity＂ in Sino-Australian Security Cooperation

This paper examines how China has played a "responsible" role in international humanitarian post-disaster assistance by taking the example of China’s assistance to post-tsunami Aceh,and explores policy implications with regard to future Sino-Australian security cooperation.China and Australia took inconsistent approaches to assistance in Aceh,which derived from their different understandings of international "responsibility".However,the inconsistencies do not necessarily hamper cooperation between the two.Rather,it is because of these inconsistent approaches that the two countries’ cooperation can develop into comprehensive and multifaceted assistance.The key to successful cooperation between the two countries,this paper argues,is the notion of "complementarity".In policy documents on bilateral relations,Chinese and Australian policymakers emphasize the "economic complementarity" between the two,but this "complementarity" is also useful when the two explore the way in which they will cooperate on security issues.One example of this complementary approach with regard to assistance for Aceh is the Australian effort to promote stability in both tsunami and non-tsunami affected areas,and Chinese economic investment in Aceh,in keeping with the Acehnese local expectations of long-term economic development and more employment opportunities,which are the foundation stones of stability.While these efforts are not consistent,they are highly complementary to each other,and have great potential to encourage peace and stability in Aceh.