Connecting the 3 Bs: , , Beijing The EU and China cooperation initiatives towards greater connectivity of Eurasia: the role of

GCRF COMPASS Signature Conference ADA University 11-12 June 2020

COMPASS: Comprehensive Capacity-Building in the Eastern Neighbourhood and Central Asia: research integration, impact governance & sustainable communities (GCRF UKRI ES/P010849/1)

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Connecting the 3 Bs: Brussels, Baku, Beijing The EU and China cooperation initiatives towards greater connectivity of Eurasia: the role of Azerbaijan

11-12 June 2020

ADA University, Baku

Jean-Clade Jncke: Increaed conneciibenefi or people and or economie. Because it creae abili and properi for all.

CONCEPT: This international signature conference organised by the ADA University under the aegis of the GCRF COMPASS project brings together a range of top-level international academics, practitioners, policymakers and businesses to explore and discuss existing egional poe aegic pioiie, inmen and pacice in egional connecii fo mutual benefit. A particular focus will be on the role of Azerbaijan as a natural geo-hub for connectivity initiatives, and a test-ground for their success and compatibility. The diverse and thought-pooking confeence pogamme ill make hi ADA Uniei Signae Conference a platform for identifying major trends in cooperation and connectivity, and discussing their implications for the domestic, regional and international development opportunities and challenges.

We will explore connectivity as a global megatrend and extrapolate what it means for the Europe-Asia relationship and particularly how it affects Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia, as a geo-connectivity platform targeted by major international stakeholders. In particular, connectivity will be examined through various aspects including geopolitics, social welfare and economics to business opportunities (stat-ups) and finance.

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The GCRF COMPASS project (ES/P010849/1, 2017-21) is an ambitious UK government capacity-building funding initiative, aiming to extend UK research globally, to address the challenges of growth and sustainability in the developing countries. Notably, the COMPASS project at the , together with Cambridge University as research partner, eek o eablih he hb of ecellence a he op-level HEIs in , Azerbaijan, and , to enable them to become the centres for knowledge sharing and transfer for research integration, impact governance, and sustainable communities.

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DRAFT PROGRAMME

Connecting the 3 Bs: Brussels, Baku, Beijing The EU and China cooperation initiatives towards greater connectivity of Eurasia: the role of Azerbaijan

GCRF COMPASS ADA University Signature Conference

11-12 June 2020

ADA University, Baku

DAY 1 THURSDAY 11 JUNE 2020

08:30-09.15 Registration and coffee/tea

09.15-10:00 Official welcome Ambassador (Rector ADA University) Ambassador Kestutis Jankauskas (Head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan) Ambassador Guo Min (Ambassador of China to Azerbaijan). Connecii a a global megaend HE Ambassador James Sharp (He Maje British Ambassador to Azerbaijan). Ambassador Mikhail Bocharnikov (Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Azerbaijan) (TBC) Dr Taleh Ziyadov (Baku International Sea Trade Port, Azerbaijan) Prof Elena Korosteleva (University of Kent) Principal Investigator, GCRF COMPASS project Dr Siddharth Saxena (), Co-investigator, GCRF COMPASS project

10:00 - 11.30 Plenary: Global connectivity agenda and regional priorities Moderator: TBC Nick Trott (FCO) (TBC) Judith Slater (FCO) (TBC) Laurence Broyd (FCO) (TBC) Jinny Yan (China Global Markets) (TBC) Syed Shakeel Shah (CAREC Institute) (TBC) Relevant Ministries from Azerbaijan (TBC) EU specialists (TBC) UK British Council (TBC)

11.30-12.00 Coffee break

12.00-13.30 Panel I: From camels to trains: transportation, technology and economic connectivity Moderator: Dr Siddharth Saxena (Cambridge) (TBC) Dr Taleh Ziyadov (Baku International Sea Trade Port) Prof Li Yongquan (Centre for BRI Studies, CASS.President, Chinese Association of Russian, EE and CA Studies) (TBC) Prof Lord Mair (House of Lords) Ulf Schneider (Schneider Group) (TBC) TANAP representative (TBC) Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway (TBC) 3

13.30 14.30 Lunch break

14.30 - 16.00 Panel II: Green connectivity and risk insurance: through the start-up lens Moderator: TBC Dr Elnur Soltanov (TBC) Prof Xu Qinhua (Renmin Uniei). Geen China. (TBC) Simon Pirani (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies) (TBC) Gulmira Rzayeva (Oxford Institute for Energy Studies) (TBC) Pete King (AIG) (TBC) Andrey Doschinsky (Alfa Insurance) (TBC) Dr Peter Kaznacheev (Roland Berger) (TBC)

16.00 16.30 Coffee break

16.30 17.30 Keynote speech

19.00 Reception

DAY 2 FRIDAY 12 JUNE 2020

09.30-11.00 Panel III: Critical connectivity: Promoting political stability and resilience in Eurasia Moderator: TBC Dr Yu Jie (Chatham House) Eugene Chausovsky (Stratfor USA) Prof David Chandler (Westminster University) Dr Akram Umarov (University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Uzbekistan) Dr Anar Valiyev (ADA University) Prof Elena Korosteleva (University of Kent) Dr Irina Petrova (University of Kent, UK)

11.00 -11.30 Coffee break

11.30-12.30 Panel IV: COMPASS panel: Connecting hearts and minds: On the importance of cultural connectivity Moderator: Professor Elena Korosteleva Dr Nargis Nurulla-Khodzhaeva (Tajik National University) Dr Diana T. Kudaibergenova (University of Cambridge) Prof Viktor Pravdivets (Belarusian State University) Dr Farrukh Salimov (Tajik National University) (TBC) Dr Kavus Abushov (ADA University) Dr Bakhtiyor Eshchanov (Westminster University, Uzbekistan)

12.30 13.30 Lunch break

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13.30 15.00 Plenary Session: Azerbaijan, the region and the future of global connectivity - major challenges and opportunities Moderator: Fariz Ismailzade (TBC) Prof Munira Shahidi (Tajik National University) (TBC) Prof Kerry Brown (Kings College London) Lord Teverson (House of Lords COMPASS AB member, UK) (TBC) Prof Peter Nolan (Cambridge University) (TBC) Samir Saran (Observer Research Foundation) (TBC) Lord Waverley (House of Lords) (TBC)

15.00 15.30 Coffee break

13.30 15.00 Awarding of Summer School certificates

16.00 19.00 Tour of Baku

20.00 Farewell dinner

DAY 3 SATURDAY 13 JUNE 2020 - COMPASS (invited) participants only

Writing-up workshop II for the COMPASS Special Issue

Presentation of the revised drafts and feedback.

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