On the occasion of the Arab-Chinese Cooperation Forum in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Bahrain Centre for Studies and Research (BCSR) launched a special issue of the Journal of Strategic Studies on Arab-Chinese Relations.
The BCSR launched a special issue of the Journal of Strategic Studies on Arab-Chinese Relations with contributions from a number of Arab and Chinese researchers and writers. The launch took place on Monday 19th May at 1 p.m. at the BCSR premises near Awali.
This special issue of the journal includes focus on topics such as: Arab-Chinese cooperation, Chinese relations with major international blocs; internal developments in China; China's future; China's foreign policy towards the Middle East; and the prospect of political and economic reform in China. This issue of the journal coincides with the holding of the Third Session of the Arab-Chinese Forum in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which will be held from the 20th to 22nd May 2008 in Manama.
The journal includes several papers written by Arab and Chinese researchers in Arabic and English, in addition to key documents on Arab-Chinese relations. The foreword is a statement by H.E. Dr. Abdul Rahman Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, in which he deals with the "Modern Concept of Citizenship in the GCC states", especially with regard to the project on the concept of citizenship, which was presented during the last summit, the 28th GCC Summit held in Doha.
There is a statement by Dr. Mohammed J. K. Alghatam, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the BCSR and Editor in Chief of the journal, with an appraisal of this special issue on Arab-Chinese Cooperation, in which he highlights the importance of the Arab-Chinese Forum which has contributed to the bolstering of relations between the two parties during the 21st Century. This issue also includes a statement by H.E. Shaikh Khaled Bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in which he highlights the "Arab-Chinese Forum as a Unique Event". This event is attended by all Arab countries and China, and is held every two years to discuss joint cooperation issues across all political and economic fields, and which puts emphasis on security and stability in the region. The Minister of Foreign Affairs' assessment is that the Third Round of Arab-Chinese Dialogue in Bahrain is a landmark in constructive cooperation between Arab countries and China, and an opportunity to evaluate the progress made in previous years.
The Chinese Ambassador to Bahrain, in his statement, emphasizes the importance of establishing an Arab-Chinese partnership based on peace and sustainable development.
The journal contains studies and research papers by experts and specialists dealing with different aspects of Arab-Chinese relations and this special issue includes two papers by Dr. Mohamed Noman Galal, an expert on Chinese affairs and ex-Egyptian Ambassador to China. The first paper is entitled "China and the Arabs; Two Emerging Powers"; the second focuses on events in Tibet and the Arab position on Chinese unity, in which he deals with various aspects of Arab-Chinese cooperation.
Dr. Hussein Ismail, Deputy Editor of China Today deals with the question: "Is there an Arab-Chinese Partnership?" Mr. Jawad Al Hamad, Director of the Middle East Studies Centre in Jordan, has contributed a paper entitled: "Strong Arabs are in the interests of China in the Middle East". Mr. Al Hamad points out that Arab disunity will not lead to real cooperation, and thus it is important to work towards bringing Arabs closer together, so that they become more powerful.
Bahraini researcher Radhi Al Samak's paper is on "The Prospect for the Reform Process in China". The Sudanese specialist on China, Dr. Jaffar Karrar has a paper on "The Fundamental Changes in China's Foreign Policy". Another paper by Mr. Hussein Rashed Al Sabaigh, Bahrain's First Ambassador to China is entitled "Contemplating Chinese Development and Arab-Chinese Relations".
A paper by Mr. Saleh Habib Allah Al Saeni, a Chinese Muslim who specializes in the Islamic history of China, is on "Islam's history during the Tang Dynasty from 618 to 960". Abdul Karim Yacoub Habib Allah, Director of the Saudi-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, has a paper on "Future Prospects for Saudi-Chinese Relations". Dr. Ahmed Abdul Razak Shikara, an Iraqi expert on international affairs, writes about "The Geo-strategic and Economic Dimension in Iraqi-Chinese Relations".
Mr. Wang Yu Yong, Professor at the Shanghai University of International Studies and an Orientalist, writes on "Oil Cooperation between China and Sudan" and Mr. Ashraf Mohamed Kisk from the Kuwaiti Centre for Diplomatic Studies writes about the "Chinese Presence in North Africa".
There are two papers by Mr. Waleed Abdul Hadi Al Uwaimer, Assistant Professor at the Hussein Bin Talal University in Jordan and a specialist on Chinese-Israeli relations. One paper is on "Jordanian-Chinese Relations from 1999-2007", and another on the "Impact of Chinese-Israeli Relations on Arab National Security". Finally, there is a paper by Mr. Hussamalden Jaber Sayed, a BCSR specialist on Asian affairs, on "Bahraini-Chinese Relations and their development during the period 1989-2007."
The English section of the journal includes speeches by the Secretary-General of the GCC, Dr. Abdul Rahman Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, and by Dr. Mohammed J. K. Alghatam, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the BCSR and Editor in Chief of the journal, and H.E. the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Bahrain. There is also a paper by Dr. Mohammad El-Sayed Selim on the "Status of Chinese Studies in Egypt", a paper written by Mr. Liang Pingan on "Perspectives on New China's Interests in the Middle East", as well as a paper by Dr. Mohamed Noman Galal on "The Arab World and China".
This issue of the journal includes a collection of documents about Arab-Chinese relations that was issued after the previous Arab-Chinese Forum. It also includes most of the decisions taken by the Arab League with regard to Arab-Chinese relations.
The Journal of Strategic Studies focuses on political, economic and social issues from a strategic perspective and publishes studies and papers in Arabic and English. The journal, which was first published in 2005 and is now in its fourth year, has attracted greater attention and interest at the international level. Among its editorial board are renowned thinkers from China, India, Pakistan, the U.S.A. and France, as well as from a number of Arab countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Syria and the U.A.E. This journal and other BCSR publications can be subscribed to by contacting the BCSR.
For subscription details and enquiries please email:
strategicjournal@bcsr.gov.bh or telephone: 00973 17 750790
