Global Perspectives of One Belt One Road Initiative
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2018 Global Perspectives of One Belt One Road Initiative MAY 7-8 TBILISI OPEN UNIVERSITY Global Perspectives of One Belt One Road Initiative May 7 – 8, 2018 Tbilisi Open University International Scientific Conference Journal Published by Scientific Research Center of Tbilisi Open University Editorial Board: Chief Editor: Zaur Amilakhvari – President of Academic Board, Tbilisi Open University Nodar Papukashvili – Rector, Tbilisi Open University Giorgi Amilakhvari – Vice-Rector, Tbilisi Open University Davit Dondua – Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Associate professor at Tbilisi Open University Mikheil Djibuti – Scientific worker, Head of Scientific Research Center Natia Vacharadze – Head of Quality Assurance Department, Tbilisi Open University Nana Janashia – Head of Teaching and Administrative Department, Tbilisi Open University Meqi Lobzhanidze – Dean of School of Social Sciences, Tbilisi Open University Zviad Gabisonia – Dean of Law School, Tbilisi Open University Nato Oniani – Associate Professor, Tbilisi Open University Maia Amirgulashvili – Professor, Tbilisi Open University Mikheil Tokmazishvili - Professor, Tbilisi Open University Khatia Shevardnadze - Professor, Tbilisi Open University 2 Global Perspectives of One Belt One Road Initiative May 7 – 8, 2018 Tbilisi Open University Foreword Everybody is aware of the fact that the development of the modern global market economy requires the participation of global community and respectively citizens of different nationalities and cultures. Building on recent developments in the field and a growing global interest on the One Belt and Road Initiative, Tbilisi Open University along with its partners Lanzhou University and Confucius Institute decided to host the first ever International Scientific Conference in Georgian educational Institutes, which aimed to provide a platform for the discussions of various important issues related to the project in the region and beyond. The conference “Global Perspectives of One Belt One Road Initiative” examined the evolving framework of the project including political, economic, legal and strategic considerations for its present and future, what it means for countries in its intended sphere, and the role of governments, institutions, education, scientists and investors in realizing its potential… Acknowledgements Special thanks to our partners from Lanzhou University, Vice President Mr. Pan Baotian, Confucius Institute and the Ambassador of Peoples Republic of China to Georgia for support and assistance in organizing this event. Giorgi Amilakhvari Vice-Rector 3 Global Perspectives of One Belt One Road Initiative May 7 – 8, 2018 Tbilisi Open University Tbilisi Open University EU and Belt Road Initiative from the Perspective of Peace Studies Konstantin Vekua Tbilisi Open University Tbilisi, Georgia Abstract At the beginning of the third millennium, the biggest economic project is the Belt and Road Initiative declared by the People’s Republic of China, which allows for the balancing of the powers on the Eurasian continent, mutually profitable cooperation and economic development with peaceful methods. In this regard, Sino-European relations have a crucial significance, which may support the creation of the additional stable peace zone/zones between East and the West. Keywords: EU, China, New Silk Road, OBOR, BRI, Xi Jinping, France, Germany, Italy, Great Britain, Integration, Connectivity, win-win cooperation, Zone of Peace, ZoP, Development. 1. Introduction At the end of XX century, the issue of restoring the ancient tradition of the Silk Road once again came high on the agenda. Several leading political players of the world put forward their own initiatives of its revival. The most far-reaching among them appeared to be One Belt, One Road project proposed by China. In the present work, we will discuss the particularities of this initiative, different approaches towards them and the constructive role in general, which may positively contribute to the security, development, peace and collaborative processes on the supercontinent. In particular, we will look at the One Belt, One Road project aligned between EU and China through the prism of peace studies, where we will analyze the ideological basis of the today's China's policy and its potential in creating the peace zones. 4 Global Perspectives of One Belt One Road Initiative May 7 – 8, 2018 Tbilisi Open University 2. Historical context and modern image of the One Belt, One Road Initiative It is true that the name “Silk Road” belongs to the XIX century German scientist – Ferdinand Von Richthofen (Seidenstraße), but intercontinental relations of such scale had been initially established in 130 A.D. and constituted a project created by an eminent representative of the Khan dynasty – Emperor Wu. Within the next fifteen centuries, until the time that the Ottomans captured Constantinople in 1453, “Silk Road” had the greatest impact on the development of the mankind, sharing of the newest achievements, strengthening of the economic and cultural bonds among peoples and states. The latter aspect was so broad, that even the smuggling of the silk manufacturing technology from China in VI century, with the support of the Emperor of the Byzantium – Justinian himself, could not put an end to it. With the purpose to appreciate and examine this huge historical legacy between East and the West, in 1988 UNESCO established a 10-year project “Integral Study of the Silk Roads: Roads of Dialogue“1, and in 2014, following the several years of collaboration between the People’s Republic of China and the states of Central Asia with UNESCO, an entire Chang'an-Tianshan corridor was declared as the cultural heritage of the humankind. On the verge of II-III millennia, several projects were offered for the revival of the “Silk Road” (European Union’s initiative of Europe-Caucasus-Asia Transport Corridor in 1992; USA’s initiative of the New Silk Road in 2011; Japan’s initiative of “Revitalization Strategy” in 2013 and again in 2013 South Korea’s Eurasia Initiative), but the furthest-reaching one was the initiative of China’s President - Xi Jinping in 2013 – “One Belt, One Road”, which involves around 100 countries and international organizations. Sometimes it is also referred to as the “China’s Marshall Plan”, one of the strategic objectives of which is to balance the powers on the Eurasian continent. Essentially BRI is focused on mutually profitable cooperation, common and peaceful development, economic growth, transparency, openness, multilateralism, and inclusiveness, and unlike Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) goes beyond the regional boundaries. It consists of 6 land belts (the New Eurasian Land Bridge, the China–Mongolia–Russia Corridor, the China– Central Asia–West Asia Corridor, the China–Indochina Peninsula Corridor, the Bangladesh- China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor) and The Maritime Silk Road. 1 Integral study of The Silk Roads: Roads of Dialogue, A UNESCO Intercultural Project, 1988-1997, 2008, p. 1 http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001591/159189E.pdf 5 Global Perspectives of One Belt One Road Initiative May 7 – 8, 2018 Tbilisi Open University Despite the fact that the biggest players of the “New Belt Road” are China and EU with its leading countries, every country involved in this project can get considerable revenues and accelerate the speed of its own, as well as of common economic development. Several trillion US dollars are intended to be spent for the BR Initiative. Of course, the said project has its challenges and risks, related to the different interests of the leading countries of Asia and Europe (and not only) in the strategic matters or security problems. For example, if in the regional relations Japan is the economic rival of China, and the Kashmir problem stands in the way of India to participate in the BRI, one of the most ambivalent players of the “New Silk Road” is the USA: on the one hand, the United States of America regards China as its greatest rival in XXI century, whereas on the other hand, it is important for the latter that the USA keeps its army in Afghanistan, because otherwise, it may cause destabilization in the region and obstruct the successful implementation of the BRI2. However, by defining the final, shared points and with the joint effort it is possible to overcome existing difficulties with a priority sequence. 3. Aspects of cooperation between European Union and Belt Road Initiative The biggest economic block and a stable peace zone such as the European Union has a relatively positive attitude towards the BR Initiative. Interaction with its 15 trillion Euro GDP market is important for China especially in the fields of transport, power industry, finances, and telecommunication3. The main substance of the BR initiative is the strengthening of the connectivity4. Relationship of the “New Silk Road” with the West reflects the stance of the initiative towards the EU as a whole, as well as towards its individual states. Generally, they all have interest in the intensification of the use of the seaports, airports and railway network. The best example is the acquisition of the controlling interest in the Athens Piraeus Port by a carrier and logistic giant - Chinese company COSCO in 2016. Also, the planned construction of the new Belgrade- Budapest railway section by the Chinese companies5. No less important for the Sino-European relationships is the infrastructural development of the BR Initiative with Asian and African countries. Furthermore, we can say that the “New Silk Road” carries an instrumental role for American and Taiwanese companies, as it can be seen in 2 Wuthnow J. – Chinese Perspectives on the Belt and Road Initiative: Strategic Rationales, Risks, and Implications, INSS, National Defence University Press, Washington, D.C. October, 2017, p. 15 3 Putten van der, Frans-Paul, Huotari M, Seaman J, Ekman A, Otero-Iglesias M. - The Role of OBOR in Europe- China Relations, ETNC Report, December 2016, p. 3 4 Putten van der, Frans-Paul, Huotari M, Seaman J, Ekman A, Otero-Iglesias M. – Ibid, p. 3 5 Putten van der, Frans-Paul, Huotari M, Seaman J, Ekman A, Otero-Iglesias M.