Publications

Yahia Zoubir (KEDGE Business School) published a new research article on Sino-Algerian relations in Global Politics, part of a special issue edited by Enrico Fardella and Brandon Friedman.

The 5th of June 2022 marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Greece and China. On this occasion, Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged warm wishes. Two weeks earlier, on May 13, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias had a phone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who described Greece-China relations as a “true reflection of mutual understanding and affinity between ancient civilizations, and a vivid epitome of the trend of the times for peace, development and win-win cooperation, setting a good example for the development of relations between China and European countries.” Dendias said that Greece firmly adheres to the one-China principle and that Wang Yi expressed his understanding of European and Greek concerns over the war in Ukraine. Finally, a symposium celebrating 50 years of Greece-China diplomatic relations was held at the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation in Piraeus on May 27th. Chinese Ambassador to Greece Xiao Junzheng noted that the two countries “must pursue mutual beneficial and win-win cooperation, which calls on us to align the construction of the 'Belt and Road' initiative with the 'Greece 2.0' plan, and expand bilateral cooperation in areas such as shipping, energy, infrastructure, green and digital economy.” Against this background, this report explores the roots of Greece’s China policy in order to better understand the dynamics of Sino-Greek relations. It argues that despite the competition between China and the West, Greece, an EU and NATO member, has developed a strong relationship with Beijing that remains remarkably stable.

Andrea Ghiselli, Head of Research of the ChinaMed Project, was the guest of the 17th BRI Dialogue, hosted by Ali Borhani and Anoush Ehteshami. The discussion revolved around China's approach to the Middle East and North Africa. Dr. Ghiselli shared his insights on several topics of great relevance, including China's diplomatic method of protecting Chinese citizens and investments in the Middle East; the economic and political significance of Syria, Libya, and Iraq for China; China's political calculations on Iran nuclear deal. He also talks about China's possible but limited influence on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The Italian Ministry of Defence recently remarked how the United States’ partial military disengagement in the MENA area created a vacuum that attracted old and new global competitors, including China. Andrea Ghiselli, Head of Research of the ChinaMed Project, has talked with Formiche's Emanuele Rossi about this issue.

Our Research Fellow, Ahmet Faruk Isik, is the coauthor of a new report published by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkiye, Turkiye's main actor in the field of commercial diplomacy. In the context of the global economic uncertainties caused by the pandemic and geopolitical tensions, the report presents a comprehensive roadmap for how Turkiye can develop relations with China, the world's second-largest economy, in a more constructive and balanced way. The report focuses on the benefits that economic relations with China and taking part in the Belt and Road Initiative can provide Turkiye. It delineates how to achieve the benefits of economic cooperation, but also the risks involved in doing business with China, and the necessity of effectively managing these risks.

Andrea Ghiselli (Fudan University and ChinaMed Project) and Mohammed Alsudairi (King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies and Hong Kong Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences) published a new research article on Sino-Syrian relations in Global Politics, part of a special issue edited by Enrico Fardella and Brandon Friedman.