
Received 13.10.2023. Revised 01.11.2023. Accepted 22.11.2023.
Abstract. The article is analyzing the latest trends in China’s participation in the integration processes in the Asia-Pacific region and their determining factors. The evolution of China’s approaches to integration processes in the region in key areas of trade, economic and investment interaction is considered. China’s integration cooperation with the Asia-Pacific countries is developing within three main multilateral formats, including the forum of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The One Belt, One Road Initiative occupies a special place in China’s policy regarding integration processes in the Asia-Pacific region. The paper analyzes the directions of development of these formats, the nature of their interaction with each other, the prospects for the integration of the Asia-Pacific countries and China’s participation in these processes. In connection with the stalled rounds of WTO trade negotiations and the postponement of the creation of a free trade area within the framework of the APEC, China’s participation in the RCEP strengthens its regional position while China has now become the leading trading partner for the countries participating in the agreement. ASEAN countries’ trade with China exceeds their trade with the United States. The article also considers trends and problems in the implementation of the Chinese One Belt, One Road Initiative. Among the problems are the discrepancies between the interests of the parties involved, the lack of investment resources, political factors. At the same time, the flexible nature of the Chinese Initiative, the absence of strict requirements for participants, and their interest in the project allows the One Belt, One Road to become the world’s largest cooperation platform operating on the principles of an open mega-partnership.
Keywords: Asia-Pacific region, free trade zone, import, China, trade and investment liberalization, protectionism, free trade, Trans-Pacific Partnership, One Belt One Road Initiative, APEC forum, world economic integration, export
REFERENCES
1. Potapov M.A. Foreign Economic Model of Development of East Asian Countries. Moscow, International Relations, 2004. 240 p. (In Russ.)
2. Petri P.A., Plummer M.G. China Should Join the New Trans-Pacific Partnership. Washington, Peterson Institute for International Economics, January 2019. Available at: https://www.piie.com/publications/policy-briefs/china-should-join-new-trans-pacific-partnership (accessed 10.05.2023).
3. Hufbauer G.C., Schott J.J., Lu Zhiyao. China and the Trans-Pacific Partnership: In or Out? Washington, Peterson Institute for International Economics, 23.06.2020. Available at: https://www.piie.com/blogs/trade-and-investment-policy-watch/china-and-trans-pacific-partnership-or-out (accessed 10.05.2023).
4. Mikheev V.V., Shvydko V.G., eds. Imbalances Trans-Pacific Space. Moscow, Magistr, 2014. 320 p. (In Russ.)
5. Cimino-Isaacs C., Schott J., eds. Trans-Pacific Partnership: An Assessment. Washington, Peterson Institute for International Economics, 2016. 369 p.
6. Junhua Wei, Yue Gao, Ehsan Elahi. China’s Integration in the Asia-Pacific Regional Economic Cooperation. Frontiers in Psychology, 2022, vol. 13, 951413. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.951413
7. Qing Yucai, Zhou Gupin, Luo Weidong. One Belt, One Road: Comments. Moscow, “Chance” International Publishing Company, 2017. 330 p. (In Russ.)
8. Kheifets B.A. Chinese Way of Globalization and Russia. Moscow, Course, 2022. 208 p. (In Russ.)
9. Lju Bo. The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and China’s Countermeasures. Far Eastern Studies, 2014, no. 6, pp. 56-66. (In Russ.)
SOURCES
1. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC). Official Website of the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation, 14.07.2021. (In Russ.) Available at: https://digital.gov.ru/ru/activity/directions/304/ (accessed 05.06.2023).
2. ASEAN-China Open Free Trade Area. The Sydney Morning Herald, 30.12.2009. Available at: https://www.smh.com.au/world/aseanchina-open-free-trade-area-20091230-ljht.html (accessed 18.05.2023).
3. Agreement on Trade in Goods of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the People’s Republic of China. ASEAN. Available at: https://asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Copy-of-ACFTA-TIG-Agreement-_Body-Agreement_.doc.pdf (accessed 27.10.2023).
4. China’s Tariff Reduction Lists to ASEAN Countries. China FTA Network. Available at: http://fta.mofcom.gov.cn/topic/chinaasean.shtml (accessed 18.05.2023).
5. Customs Statistics. The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, 18.01.2023. (In Chin.) Available at: http://www.customs.gov.cn/customs/302249/zfxxgk/2799825/302274/302277/302276/4807727/index.html (accessed 14.05.2023).
6. The Expert Believes that RCEP Will Contribute to Global Economic Growth. TASS, 21.05.2023. (In Russ.) Available at: https://tass.ru/ekonomika/17807151 (accessed 05.06.2023).
7. China and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership: An Economic and Political Perspective. Discussion Papers Series ¹ 434. Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), August 2022. Available at: https://www.eria.org/uploads/media/discussion-papers/FY22/China-and-the-Regional-Comprehensive-Economic-Partnership-An-Economic-and-Political-Perspective.pdf (accessed 08.05.2023).
8. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. RCEP. Available at: https://rcepsec.org/legal-text/ (accessed 03.05.2023).
9. ASEAN Statistical Yearbook 2022. Jakarta, ASEAN Secretariat, December 2022. Available at: https://www.aseanstats.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ASYB_2022_423.pdf (accessed 05.06.2023).
10. The Central Economic Work Conference Was Held. Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang and Li Qiang Made Important Speeches. Xinhua News Agency, 16.12.2022. (In Chin.) Available at: http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2022-12/16/content_5732408.htm (accessed 10.05.2023).
11. The West is Chasing the East. Ten Years of China’s Western Regions Development Program: Results and Prospects. ChinaPro. Business Magazine about China, 23.08.2010. (In Russ.) Available at: http://www.chinapro.ru/blogs/6/4771/ (accessed 19.05.2023).
12. Chinese President Xi Jinping on the Belt and Road Initiative. Russian.News.Cn, 12.05.2017. (In Russ.) Available at: http://russian.news.cn/2017-05/12/c_136276839.htm (accessed 21.05.2023).
13. Great Prospects and Practical Actions to Jointly Build the Economic Belt of the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, March 2015. (In Russ.) Available at: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/rus/zxxx/201504/t20150415_766831.html (accessed 12.06.2021).
14. Xi Story: A Transformative Speech that Gave Rise to Belt and Road Initiative. Xinhua News Agency, 16.05.2023. Available at: https://english.news.cn/20230516/8e5c49a736824af5a2b7ad8d1740c439/c.html (accessed 24.05.2023).
15. MOFCOM Regular Press Conference (March 23, 2023). Ministry of Commerce, PRC, 24.03.2023. Available at: http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/newsrelease/press/202304/20230403400929.shtml (accessed 24.05.2023).
16. Russian-Chinese Dialogue: Model 2022. Report ¹ 78/2022. Moscow, Russian International Affairs Council, 2022. 82 p. (In Russ.)
No comments