Harmonizing investment incentives in the APEC process

Security of access to markets is critically important in international trade in goods and services. Security is also critically important to foreign direct investment. With the “globalization” of production, international attention has been turning to improving the institutional environment for FDI, especially in developing economies. In APEC, the focus has been on principles and a non-binding code, but in due course the focus will have to shift to a binding agreement with rules that instill the confidence needed for providers of capital to invest in the major infrastructure projects that will make a difference in East Asia’s development. The focus here is on limits on the level of investment incentives that governments can use to attract foreign investors.     

世纪盛会成果丰硕--评2001年APEC上海会议

2001年APEC上海会议是在全球经济增长减缓和国际环境较不稳定的背景下召开的,但是从这次会议取得的成果来看,却富有积极意义,它所体现的平衡、务实、创新精神,为亚太经合组织下一个十年的发展奠定了坚实的基础,同时为新世纪中国经济、外交以及其他方面的发展创造了一个良好的国际氛围.     

韩国强化无人岛管理的做法及对中国的启示

近年来,国际海洋权益形势的发展促使韩国不断调整其海洋政策,以不断拓展其海洋权益空间。在当前面临与周边国家进行海上划界的形势下,韩国尤其重视无人岛的管理,从出台相关法律政策和计划,到无人岛找寻、岛屿调查登记、基础海图制作等管理工作,努力最大限度地维护其海洋权益。韩国加强无人岛管理的法律和实践值得关注和研究,并值得我们借鉴。     

Africa and its Diaspora: The principal reciprocal benefits to be derived from the amended Constitutive Act of the African Union

Abstract

Under article 3(q) (Objectives) of the Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union, we read the following: ‘invite and encourage the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of our continent, in building the African Union (AU)’. According to the AU, ‘The African Diaspora are peoples of African descent and heritage outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and who remain committed to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union’. Not only is this posture entirely consistent with the African development agenda and Renaissance, but it is also congruent with the recent and first-ever AU African Diaspora Summit which was convened on Friday, 25 May 2012, at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. This is so because the Summit provided us with an excellent opportunity to continue to reflect on, and engage with, issues relevant to the development of the continent and, by extension, its multilingual and globally dispersed Diaspora. In this public lecture, it is argued that the current Amendment to the Constitutive Act of the AU in which the African Diaspora is now considered the sixth Region of the AU – an Amendment which has not yet been ratified by the requisite number of African states and one which might still be in need of some degree of disambiguation – provides the framework within which some fundamental and reciprocal benefits can be derived from an ongoing interaction between Africa and its Diaspora – especially its Older or Historic Diaspora. In essence, it is my contention that the principal reciprocal benefits that can accrue from this interaction between Africa and its Diaspora might best be captured in the language of pan-Africanisation and re-Africanisation respectively.     

What Macroeconomic Measures Are Needed for Free Trade to Flourish in the Western Hemisphere?

Recent experience has made clear the importance of macroeconomic stability, and exchange rate stability in particular, in generating support for regional integration. The tensions created by exchange-rate and financial volatility are clearly evident in the recent history of Mercosur and may also hinder the development of a Free Trade Area of the Americas. This essay argues that ambitious schemes for a single regional currency are not a practical response to this problem. Nor would a system of currency pegs or bands be sufficiently durable to provide a lasting solution. Instead, countries must solve this problem at home. In practice, this means adopting sound and stable monetary policies backed by a clear and coherent operating strategy, such as inflation targeting. With such policies in place, exchange rate volatility can be reduced to levels compatible with regional integration.     

在新世纪深化中印关系面临的挑战

自拉吉夫·甘地1988年访华以来,中印关系恢复正常并逐渐取得较大发展.特别是进入新世纪后,中印之间高层互访不断,外交关系迅速改善,双边贸易额大幅攀升,在国际和区域事务中双方保持了良好的沟通与合作,学术和民间等各方面的人员交流也空前增多,两国还宣布要建立面向和平与繁荣的战略合作伙伴关系,并为这种关系的持续发展和多样化提出了宝贵蓝图--"十项战略".所有这些,使迅速发展的中印关系呈现出一副美好光明前景,令人鼓舞.     

Cultural mobilization in post-Soviet Kazakhstan: views from the state and from non-titular nationalities compared

This article examines the way the cultural revival in post-Soviet Kazakhstan is perceived by both the state and militants from non-titular nationalities. Based on ethnographic material, the author analyses state engineering of cultural diversity and the strategies elaborated by militants of Tatar cultural associations to manage the status quo, as well as the preservation of ‘cultural intimacy’. The study points to convergences between the state discourse about inter-ethnic concord and the practices of cultural national militants. It also shows that behind this apparent status quo, the cultural sphere has become the arena where the issue of the recognition of full-fledged citizenship and the legitimacy to reside in Kazakhstan is raised and disputed by non-Kazakh groups, albeit implicitly.     

Security in the Gulf: The View from Oman

For a long time, analysts of the Middle East have justifiably focused their attention on Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, three Gulf states holding massive hydrocarbon deposits and financial resources. Their leaders are the main “movers and shakers” of regional affairs and enjoy tremendous influence on the international scene. Still, other Gulf states play significant roles in shaping the Middle East's economic and strategic landscape. Such is the case with Oman, which has been a major US ally in most regional crises and has played a crucial role in mediating Gulf conflicts. This article, based on several visits to the sultanate and interviews with senior officials, analyzes the domestic, regional, and international dynamics being navigated by Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, who succeeded Sultan Qaboos bin Said in January 2020. The argument is that the new Omani leader is likely to follow the domestic and foreign policies of his predecessor, with minor adjustments. Oman may witness major changes when Crown Prince Theyazin succeeds his father. For now, given the crucial role Muscat plays in mediating regional conflicts, the sultanate expects more attention from its counterparts in Washington.     

从文物遗址看佛教在泰国的传播

泰国素有“黄袍佛国”的称呼 ,全国人口的 95 %以上信仰佛教 ,全国共有佛寺 32 ,0 0 0所 ,僧侣 30万人。泰国宪法规定 :“泰国国王 ,必须是佛教徒及佛教的护持者 ,才可以登基为王。”佛教在泰国社会生活中占有很重要的地位。可以说 ,不了解佛教 ,便不能真正了解泰国。笔者利用在泰国任教的机会 ,跑遍泰国 73府 ,考察了重要的文物遗址 ,再参阅、参证中、泰文史籍 ,为各历史时期佛教在泰国的传播和发展勾勒出一个大致的轮廓。