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Scholarly efforts to predict the future character of the U.S.-China relationship abound. Few however looks to leaders’ beliefs as valid explanatory variables. In this paper, we argue that state leaders’ belief systems are key to understanding both the states’ intentions and policy choices. We analyze China’s national defense white papers (1998-2015) published to date as the source material to gauge the core collective beliefs of three generations of Chinese leadership. The operational code framework is employed to conceptualize and measure these beliefs. Our results identified important crossgenerational changes in a few belief indicators. In the Xi Jinping era, for instance, the political world is seen as less friendly and cooperative strategies are viewed less favorably. In terms of tactics, the policy tools “threaten” and “promise” are viewed as significantly more useful by the current leadership than by past Chinese leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve the ambitious goal of "carbon neutrality", countries around the world are striving to develop clean energy. Against this background, this paper takes China and Italy as representatives of developing and developed countries to summarize the energy structure composition and development overview of the two countries. The paper analyzes the serious challenges facing the future energy development of both countries and investigates the possibilities of energy cooperation between the two countries, taking into account their respective advantages in energy development. By comparing the policies issued by the two governments to encourage clean energy development, this paper analyzes the severe challenges faced by the two countries' energy development in the future and combines their respective energy development advantages to look forward to the possibility of energy cooperation between the two countries in the future. This lays the foundation for China and Italy to build an "Energy Road" after the "Silk Road". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to discuss China's behavior in the developing world through the lens of the domestic model of governance. It does so by seeking analogies between three forms of Beijing's political approaches in domestic affairs: generating enthusiasm through slogan politics and promised incentives, informal networks, and coordinated development in China-led multilateralism with Africa and Central and Eastern Europe. By discussing the domestic-foreign policy nexus, the paper introduces the concept of China's vertical multilateralism. Finally, by broaching a new theoretical understanding, the paper decodes China's behavior in the regions mentioned above and provides an alternative model for understanding China's foreign policy in the developing world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, much attention has been paid to the use of biopolymers as food packaging materials due to their important characteristics and properties. These include non-toxicity, ease of availability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, indicating their potential as an alternative to conventional plastic packaging that has long been under environmental scrutiny. Given the current focus on sustainable development, it is imperative to develop studies on biopolymers as eco-friendly and sustainable food packaging materials. Therefore, the aim of this review is to explore trends and characteristics of biopolymer-based biodegradable films for food packaging, analyze the contribution of various journals and cooperation between countries, highlight the most influential authors and articles, and provide an overview of the social, environmental, and economic aspects of biodegradable films for food packaging. To achieve this goal, a bibliometric analysis and systematic review based on the PRISMA method were conducted. Relevant articles were carefully selected from the Scopus database. A bibliometric analysis was also conducted to discuss holistically, comprehensively, and objectively biodegradable films for food packaging. An increasing interest was found in this study, especially in the last 3 years with Brazil and China leading the number of papers on biodegradable films for food packaging, which were responsible for 20.4% and 12.5% of the published papers, respectively. The results of the keyword analysis based on the period revealed that the addition of bioactive compounds into packaging films is very promising because it can increase the quality and safety of packaged food. These results reveal that biodegradable films demonstrate a positive and promising trend as food packaging materials that are environmentally friendly and promote sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Tuberculosis is one of the oldest diseases in human history, and spinal tuberculosis (STB) is the most common form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. A large number of research has been conducted in this field. However, there has been no bibliometric analysis performed in recent years in STB. The aim of this study was to analyze trends and hotspots in research on STB. Methods: Publications regarding STB between 1980 and 2022 were extracted from the Web of Science database. CiteSpace (V5.7.R2) and VOSviewer (1.6.10) were used to perform global analyses of the number of publications, countries, institutions, authors, journals, keywords, and cited references. Results: A total of 1262 articles were published between 1980 and 2022. We observed rapid growth in the number of publications since 2010. Spine had the highest number of publications (47, 3.7%). Zhang HQ and Wang XY were key researchers. The Central South University published the most papers (90, 7.1%). China was the leading contributor in this field with 459 publications and 29 H-index. National partnerships are dominated by the USA, and there is a lack of active cooperation between other countries and authors. Conclusion: research on STB has achieved great progress, with an increasing number of publications since 2010. Surgical treatment and debridement are current research hots pots, and diagnosis, drug resistance, and kyphosis are likely research frontiers. Cooperation between countries and authors needs to be further strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate risk assessment of international scientific and technological (S&T) cooperation is significant to international cooperation. In this paper, 5 risk dimensions with respect to the political, economic, social, cultural as well as technological of the regional comprehensive economic partnership countries (RCEP) are selected to establish a proper S&T cooperation index system for risk assessment. To calculate the weight of each index, a cross-entropy combination weighting method is proposed based on the combination weighting method of game theory. Furthermore, the standard cloud model is constructed by using the golden ratio, and the risk of S&T cooperation among the RCEP countries is analyzed by the cloud model. The results show that the combination weighting method proposed in this paper is effective, and its calculation is simpler than that of the game theory combination weighting method. Besides, compared with political, social, cultural, and technological indicators, economic indicators have a greater impact on S&T cooperation risk. Furthermore, it is also obtained from the results that the risk of S&T cooperation with China and the Philippines is at a lower to low level and medium to higher level, respectively, and the risk of S&T cooperation with other countries is all at a lower to medium level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (EG) joined the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macao) in 2022, becoming the tenth member-state. This occurred during the 2022 Extraordinary Ministerial Conference, after it acceded to the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) in 2014. Since 2015, China and EG have been intensifying their bilateral cooperation after establishing a comprehensive cooperative partnership (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, 2015). In 2019, the two countries signed a Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI) MoU during the second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, and initiated a strategic approach for bilateral cooperation. Consequently, considering the uniqueness of EG as a Portuguese-speaking Country (PSC) and as the newest member of Forum Macao, this paper poses and answers the following research question: What will be the impact of Sino-Equatoguinean cooperation in light of EG's recent accession to FM? Methodologically, the research uses qualitative data supported by triangular referencing, including official and non-official sources, namely official statistics, academic papers, and media reports, to look into the bilateral Sino-Equatoguinean relations under the B&RI Lusophone framework, as well as the fact that EG is a CPLP member state. Accordingly, the methodologic rationale focuses on the uniqueness of EG as one of the Lusophone countries and relates it to the Chinese B&RI at three levels: domestic, regional and global. This paper is organized as follows: (1) Introduction; (2) The uniqueness of EG as a PSC; (3) The B&RI and the Lusophone Countries; (4) Cooperation between Equatorial Guinea and China; (5) Conclusion - The Future of Sino-Equatoguinean Cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights China's position paper on the issue of international terrorism, released on September 25, 2001. Threat posed by terrorism to international peace and security; Opposition of the Chinese government to all forms of terrorism; Responsibilities and obligations of all States in their cooperation to fight international terrorism.

Tensions in the EU-China relationship have hampered cooperation in various sectors, including a set of transnational security issues where engagement with China is unavoidable but nevertheless profoundly challenging. The EU maintains a "tripartite" strategy, originally outlined in its 2019 Strategic Outlook, seeing China as a "partner", but also as an economic "competitor" and a "systemic rival". China's former State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has described the European approach as suffering from "cognitive dissonance". As a result, and as demonstrated by the failure of the 2022 EU-China Summit, the two parties are now operating within two different frameworks, and constructive cooperation has become increasingly difficult. By working with Qin Yaqing's concept of "relationality", this article aims to contribute to a better conceptualisation of the ways in which the EU and China can work with each other to tackle global issues. Challenging the literature that tries to explain the shift in EU-China relations by focusing on individual actors, this research's approach focuses on the relations between actors. Adopting this ontology of relations, this research paper analyses how, in the EU-China relationship, relations between the two parties contribute to creating their own identities and motivate their actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liberal international order established after the end of the Cold War is currently an order in transition. The shift in material power - following the rise of China - is necessary to understanding the changes in the international order, but it is not the whole story. We are seeing both material and ideational changes. The present moment is one of rules under challenge. But the normative contestation the international order is facing is not just about the rivalry between China and the United States or the tired description of "the rest against the West"; its parameters are more complex and diverse. To demonstrate that, this paper looks at three very different issues on the international agenda: a) governance of the Internet, b) sexual and reproductive rights and c) migration management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing import volume of China's oil and natural gas, the structure of China's energy supply chain (ESC) has become more and more complex. How to use the "Belt and Road" (OBOR) layout to promote China's regional energy cooperation and ensure China's energy security has become an important international issue facing China. This paper constructs an ESC network model in the context of the OBOR, and finds out the position of China in this network model. This paper also finds out the role law of each risk influencing factor, analyzes the degree of its influence, and puts forward some suggestions on the risk management of ESC according to the analysis results. This paper proposes to use decision tree algorithm to guide the development and construction of Sino-Lao economic and trade cooperation, which will help analyze and help the construction and research of Sino-Lao economic and trade cooperation and sustainable energy freight corridor. Based on the energy cooperation between China and the countries along the "Belt and Road," this paper analyzes the network structure of energy cooperation under the "Belt and Road" background based on the small-world network theory. This paper analyzes the important role of core countries in the ESC through the analysis of the basic parameters of the small-world network, the efficiency of energy cooperation, and the stability of energy cooperation. According to the value of each vertex degree obtained by the calculation formula of entropy value, the entropy value of the ESC network structure under the background of OBOR can be obtained as 2.408. It calculates that the maximum and minimum entropy of the ESC network structure at this time are 3.09 and 2.21 respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's 2021 White Paper, China's International Development Cooperation in the New Era, offers a new vision for a more people-centred approach to its development cooperation. While the White Paper extensively discusses partnerships, it only briefly mentions encouraging cooperation with non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This article argues that NGO engagement in international development activities would improve their effectiveness, a view shared by many Chinese scholars and practitioners. However, challenges exist that constrain optimal engagement, especially access to funding, and a weak enabling environment and policy framework. This article addresses these challenges, drawing from the literature on 'going out' among Chinese NGOs and social organisations, along with interviews with key players in the Chinese NGO ecosystem. The article recommends, among other things, that the government clarify and improve its policy framework for NGOs/social organisations in support of China's international development collaboration, especially regarding funding flows, personnel regulations, and material and capital outflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States (U.S.) and China are key to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement and reaching carbon neutrality by around mid-century. Despite differences, carbon neutrality will be met more rapidly if the two countries coordinate and facilitate synergies in carbon-neutral technologies and policy development and implementation. Building on long-term pathway models in the U.S. and China, current emissions trends and sources, and a policy analysis, this paper puts forward a novel framework for U.S.-China coordination on carbon neutrality. The analysis reveals similar technology and policy pathways, policy gaps, and shared milestones for decarbonization in 2030, 2040, and 2050-2060. The main technological pathways focus on reductions in energy demand and non-energy-related CO2 emissions, decarbonization of electricity and fuels, and increases in electrification rates and CO2 sequestration. Given existing domestic policies and opportunities for further action, areas for coordination on carbon neutrality include common policy milestones; dialogue and technical exchange; research, development, and demonstration (RD&D); and international climate leadership. Despite escalated tensions between the U.S. and China, and challenges for climate cooperation, coordination between both countries on carbon neutrality is both possible and necessary. Carbon neutrality will be met more swiftly if the U.S. and China coordinate and facilitate synergies in carbon-neutral technologies and policy. Despite the rise in geo-political tensions between the U.S. and China, coordination on carbon neutrality is both possible and necessary. An analytical framework for U.S.-China coordination on carbon neutrality, includes technology and policy pathways, and common milestones of key sectors' decarbonization for 2030, 2040, and 2050-2050. The two countries could coordinate on common policy milestones, dialogue and technical exchange, research and development, and international climate leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the leadership of the Chinese presidency, the second part of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted 62 decisions, in particular Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework(KM-GBF), which is based on the theory of transformative changes. KM-GBF, its achievements, gaps, and lessons learned, and the experience and achievements of other relevant multilateral environmental agreements, sets out an ambitious plan to implement broad-based action to bring about a transformation in our societies' relationship with biodiversity by 2030, and draws a new blueprint for global biodiversity governance. This paper provides an interpretation of the three core targets of the framework — the “3030 target” for protected areas, resource mobilisation, and digital sequence information of genetic resources, a brief introduction to the relevant decisions to ensure the implementation of the framework, and recommendations for future conservation actions in China: (1) To strengthen the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation. Revision of China's Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Plan(2011-2030) is an opportunity to involve the whole government and society in the process and to take action to promote the goals and targets of the KM-GBF; (2) To further develop detailed conservation plans, clarify the scopes, purposes and management measures of conservation areas, and implement responsible authorities and specific measures for implementing the plans. Researches on the Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) are needed to incorporate into the management system for biodiversity conservation; (3) To develop an operational indicator system and monitoring plan in accordance with the monitoring requirements of the framework targets; (4) To continue to strengthen awareness and education on biodiversity conservation, raise public awareness and attention to biodiversity conservation, and promote sustainable production and sustainable consumption in society as a whole; (5) To promote international cooperation vigorously to explore and promote Nature-based Solutions on a larger scale, and find pathways for economic and social development that have positive and beneficial effects on nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper comprises original research on China's use of bilateral media cooperation to mediate its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Building upon the literature on strategic narratives, aesthetic power and the Silk Road as a foreign policy concept, we present a detailed case study of the visual imagery of the "Silk Road" documentary collaboration between China's and Russia's state-owned international broadcasters, China Radio International and RT (formerly Russia Today). We employ a visual methodology to interrogate the formation and projection of multimodal (visual, textual and oral) narratives about China's infrastructural activities along this metaphorical new "Silk Road". We examine how the Silk Road series gives sense to China's BRI, the relative weighting of Chinese and Russian strategic narratives about the BRI, and how power is distributed in this Chinese-Russian media partnership. Our analysis reveals that in re-packaging visual imagery that applies nostalgia to the history of core places and technologizes their future, the series projects a pre-curated Chinese visual narrative that emplots the BRI as human and cultural development. Russian regional strategic narratives are marginalized. China is applying its aesthetic power to Russian journalists and politicians; RT obtains some commercial benefits, but the Russian state's aesthetic power is ceded to China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last three decades, a networked global system has emerged in the natural-science-based disciplines, sustained by collegial epistemic relations in universities. Nationally ordered and funded science has expanded alongside the global science system. The common global pool of papers, defined by bibliometric collections, nevertheless excludes large components of knowledge. In the global system, four tendencies are apparent: (1) rapid growth of papers, (2) diversification of scientific capacity to many more countries, (3) expansion of networked international and national collaboration as measured by co-authorship, (4) growing multi-polarity of capacity, outputs and quality, with the rise of China and several middle-sized national systems outside the Euro-American bloc. The paper critiques the interpretation of global science dominant in scientometrics, in which positivist data analyses are applied to performative national comparisons. It argues for a historical-synthetic explanation of the global system that combines data and theorisation, and accounts for relations of power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a development plan proposed by China that aims to build a new platform for international cooperation and create new drivers of shared development. South Asia is a key area in the Belt and Road Initiative, including eight countries. As the BRI implemented, China's trade with South Asia has been gradually strengthened. This paper explores the influencing factors of China-South Asia trade under the background of the BRI by using Gravity Model of Trade. The results show that economic growth in China and South Asia, increase of savings rate and improvement of industrialization in South Asia has a significant positive effect on China-South Asia trade. While the development gap between China and South Asia has negative effect on China-South Asia trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the epidemic and a series of strict prevention and control measures taken to prevent the spread of the epidemic will have a significant impact on the entire chain and various fields of agricultural production and operation. Based on the realistic basis of China's current international cooperation in agricultural ecological environmental protection, this paper proposes an international coordination mechanism for agricultural product trade legal systems. There is a certain degree of conflict between ecological environment protection and trade facilitation and liberalisation, but they are not completely uncoordinated. Therefore, the establishment of a set of coordination mechanisms that can restrain and encourage countries to carry out international cooperation plays a key role in resolving the conflict between the two. In addition, this paper analyzes the legal regulation of agricultural trade in the post-epidemic era through intelligent model analysis and proposes corresponding countermeasures. Through analysis and research, it also provides a corresponding reference for legal regulations of agricultural trade in the post-epidemic era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sport trade frictions have continued to evolve and escalate, which has a great impact on sport academic cooperation. In order to objectively assess the impact of sports scholarship on China and provide evidence to support future changes in sports academic cooperation, this study takes 269,647 academic papers produced by sports alone from 2010–2018 as the research object and integrates explicit, implicit, and performance information contained in the paper output to construct a multidimensional matrix assessment framework. The horizontal dimension splits the collaborative research output into three mutually exclusive subsets: China-led collaborative research, sport-led collaborative research, and bisectional collaborative research; the vertical dimension systematically analyzes the characteristics of collaborative sport academic research in terms of participants, research content, and research level. The purpose of this study is to characterize the role and status of academic cooperation between the two countries through a long period, large sample, and multidimensional perspective, to make an objective assessment of the impact of academic cooperation between the two countries, and to provide evidence to support a reasonable response to the impact of changes in the relationship between the two countries on academic cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive ants threaten China's ecosystems and agriculture. Our review highlights the challenges faced and diverse strategies employed to combat these invaders, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation for safeguarding the environment and public well-being. [Display omitted] • Ecological & Economic Challenges of Exotic Ant Invasion in China. • In-Depth Analysis of China's Struggle with Exotic Ants. • Factors Behind Introduction & Establishment of Exotic Ants. • National Responses: Capacity Building, Research, Legislation. • Addressing Limitations, Enhancing Ant Invasion Strategies. The invasion of exotic ant species in China presents significant challenges to ecosystems, agriculture, and the economy. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of China's ongoing battle with exotic ants, examining the factors contributing to their introduction and establishment. It explores the responses implemented by the decision makers, including capacity building, establishment of research institutions, and legislative measures. Limitations and gaps in the current strategies are identified, highlighting the need for regional collaboration, increased awareness, and strengthened early detection and response systems. Furthermore, the paper emphasizes the importance of conducting research to understand various exotic ant species' ecological and economic impacts, facilitating the development of targeted and effective management approaches. By adopting a comprehensive and coordinated approach, China can mitigate the impacts of ant invasions and safeguard its biodiversity, agriculture, and economy. This analysis underscores the significance of collective efforts in addressing the ongoing battle with exotic ants and preserving the well-being of ecosystems, economies, and the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The airworthiness certification is an internationally accepted legal administrative act to ensure civil aviation safety, an important component of the core competitiveness of the national civil aviation industry, and an important force in promoting the healthy development of the civil aviation industry and the strategic transformation of the national economy. In this paper, the “three principles” model of airworthiness certification is proposed, aiming at compliance of technical standards for airworthiness certification, differences in airworthiness management standards, and acceptability of airworthiness certification results among countries. Through an in-depth analysis of the concept, model, and practice of the “three principles” of airworthiness certification, the theoretical connotation of the “three principles” relationship of airworthiness certification is revealed, and the relationship model between the “three principles” of airworthiness certification is established. The study of this model can guide the international cooperation on airworthiness and the construction of airworthiness regulatory system. In addition, the effectiveness of the “three principles” model has been verified in airworthiness certification practice. Through the research on “three principles” of airworthiness certification, we can continuously improve the compliance of technical standards, narrow the differences in management standards, and ensure that the certification results are widely accepted by the international community. This will enhance the international discourse and influence of China’s civil aviation airworthiness certification, and create a fairer international policy environment to facilitate the development, expansion and internationalization of China’s civil aviation industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the regional cooperation model and the differences among artificial intelligence research teams. It is helpful to reveal the status and strategies of scientific cooperation models across regions or within regions. We identified the world of artificial intelligence research teams with co-authorship network, and then identified the leading team based on the Number of Publications, Number of Citations, H-index, Weighted Degree Centrality, Betweenness Centrality, and Closeness Centrality. Based on the identified artificial intelligence research leading teams, this paper divides different types of cooperation models by region and comprehensively analyzed the three aspects of geographical distribution, cooperation indicators, and cooperation topics in the research teams from the perspective of comparisons. In order to find the international gap between China and other countries, we still highlight the difference between China's participation and non-participation in cooperation. The research results show that Chinese and their foreign research maintain close ties with major scientific research countries; international cooperation is widespread and is conducive to crossing into the leading team; China's domestic cooperation is higher than in other countries, and their domestic cooperation research is mainly manifested in the data processing and application level, while the core technology and basic algorithm levels need to cooperate with foreign countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the beginning of the 21st century, an unprecedented theoretical change in perspective took place, and non-Western theoretical approaches began to be developed as an alternative to traditional theories of International Relations. In this way, some specialists began to debate about the emergence and consolidation of a "Chinese School of International Relations", based mostly on the Asian culture. The aim of this paper is to present the main streams of international studies in China, among which the reverse, obverse and interactive approaches stand out. Likewise, it is particularly intended to understand the conception of international cooperation of each of these approaches. In addition, it is intended to highlight the evolution of international studies in China and departs from the assumption that the production and changes of the axis of international studies follow the rise and geographical position of the great powers. In the Chinese case, they have been growing in parallel with its international prominence and the attainment of great power status. The theoretical framework proposed for this research takes as a starting point the so-called non-western theories, that is, all those theories that are not part of the mainstream of the Western International Relations Theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to explore whether the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has become an instrument of power led by China to fulfill her geopolitical interests. After an investigation of the AIIB's power structure, institutional design, and its 34 approved projects, this study finds that although the AIIB deviates to some extent from international standards while considering loan decisions, the bank itself does not appear to be a norm challenger so far. Instead, it has become more cooperative and inclusive, with a shifting focus towards mutually beneficial cooperation and reform of the international financial system. This paper argues that the AIIB's current configuration results from the decrease in China's status deficit—the gap between China's recognized international financial status and its own perception of its financial power. Quantitative and qualitative evidence shows that when the idea of the AIIB was first conceived, China's status deficit was large, which meant that in a global power struggle the AIIB was more likely to be manipulated by a dissatisfied China. As the AIIB evolved, China's international financial status gained positive recognition and the AIIB received wider acceptance; China's status deficit shrank. As a result, the AIIB has become a reform-minded multilateral financial institution that has made concessions to establish rules and has sought collaboration with its counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent years have seen a rapid change in China's global engagement and a recognition that solving global challenges will need to take the changing role of China into account. The paper discusses China's growing involvement in global health. Health is an area where there is broad agreement over global priorities and, potentially, a fertile space to build new forms of collaboration that point the way towards the adaptation of global governance to a rapidly changing context.Results: Drawing on previous analyses of China's management of change in its domestic health reforms and interviews with a range of stakeholders in China, the UK and Switzerland, the paper argues that China's engagement in global health is developing and diversifying rapidly in response to the central government's desire to see a greater role for China in global health. This diversification is part of a pattern of change management familiar from China's domestic reform experience. Explorations underway by a range of Chinese agencies form part of a process of rapid experimentation and experiential learning that are informing China's search for (a) new global role(s).Conclusions: China is undergoing rapid institutional innovation and developing capacity for greater global engagement, including in health; however, substantial, recent leadership commitments make clear Chinese agencies' need for continued exploration, innovation and rapid learning. How China engages globally is of significance to the world, not just China. The challenge for China, other global actors and multilateral organisations is to incorporate new approaches into existing global governance arrangements, including for the management of global health. This will require a willingness on all sides to learn from each other and invest the effort needed to build governance arrangements appropriate for the coming decades. This is not only important as a means of protecting global public health, but also as a demonstration of how governance arrangements can be adapted to the needs of a pluralistic global order in a context of rapid change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the introduction to the special issue on 'Contesting liberal internationalism: China's renegotiation of world order', this paper outlines the theoretical framework of the special issue, namely international order and order contestation, and the main arguments of the four papers included in this special issue. Recently, a, albeit not the, key challenge to the liberal international order stems from the leadership aspirations of non-Western, non-liberal states, and their increasing demand for a greater voice, most notably China under the leadership of Xi Jinping. This special issue is constructed as a debate concerning the alleged challenges posed by China to both the political and economic spheres of the liberal international order. The four case studies and papers are grouped into two core themes: the impact of China's state-capitalist development model and practices on the liberal economic order, and China's attempts to transform norms and rules in security-related matters. The four papers aim to appraise Chinese discursive narratives and practices that would collectively challenge American liberal hegemony. Altogether they argue that a hybrid of order-building norms and practices is likely to co-exist alongside the prevailing liberal international order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical electrical impedance tomography (EIT) reconstruction algorithms are approximately forty years old and are now being used to treat patients. At the same time, many advanced concepts are still active research areas, and literature regarding EIT algorithms has been presented in different professional journals and scientific conferences. Bibliometrics analysis method is used to assess the 30 years of scientific output and activity regarding EIT algorithm research from a global perspective, covering global publications, cooperation between countries, and clustering of keywords. 2467 research articles, reviews, letters, and proceeding papers published from 1987 to 2021 in English on EIT reconstruction algorithm were analyzed. Literature statistics show that the worldwide growth trend is rising, and global geographic distribution of publications in this field indicates that USA, South Korea, and China ranked as the top three prolific contributors in terms of EIT algorithm. "inverse problem" "regularization""electrode models" were research focus. Overall, EIT algorithms bibliometric research provides the current hotspots and future directions of algorithm research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) applications have been progressed in technology and applications, and EIT began to be used in multiple clinical and experimental scenarios including pulmonary, brain,tissues monitoring etc. This study explores the emerging trends and hot topics concerning applications on EIT in extrapulmonary applications by bibliometrics analysis. 443 research articles, reviews, letters, and proceeding papers etc. published from 1987 to 2021 in English were analyzed from a global perspective, covering global publications, cooperation between countries, and clustering of keywords. The global annual publications on extrapulmonary applications gradually increased slowly in the last 30 years, and USA, UK and China ranked as the top three prolific contributors in keywords of EIT extrapulmonary applications. "cutaneous melanoma","breast cancer detection","brain" were research hotspots. Overall, EIT extrapulmonary applications bibliometrics analysis gives us a unique insight to identify scientific advances, hot spots, research trends, and provide future directions of EIT in extrapulmonary applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper predicts the future development trend of China's International Cooperation Parks (ICPs) along the Belt and Road by systematically summarizing the current situation and the effect they exert. Relevant research shows that these ICPs have not only promoted China's industrial capacity cooperation and international industrial transfer, but also contributed to resource sharing between China and the countries along the Belt and Road. In addition, the ICPs play a positive role in further advancing social development of host countries and bilateral cooperation. Research also indicates that the development of ICPs, influenced by both a Chinese domestic "pushing force" and a foreign "pulling force," is a result jointly produced by political, economic, diplomatic, and cultural factors. As ICPs are built in increasingly more countries along the Belt and Road and their leading industries tend to be more diverse, the environment and infrastructure in host countries would be improved and the importance of Chinese private enterprises would be further enhanced. In addition, ICPs will also further promote the development of local industrial parks. What should also be noted is that problems like an unbalanced layout, irrational planning, and lack of planning standards still exist in the ICPs, thus solutions and strategies for resolving these problems are proposed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the pattens of international collaboration by analysing publications on COVID‐19 published in the first 6 months of the pandemic. The data set comprised articles on COVID‐19 indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS CC) downloaded four times between 1 April 2020 and 1 June 2020. The analysis of 5,827 documents revealed that 128 countries, 23,127 authors, and 6,349 institutes published on the pandemic. The data reveal that the three main publishing countries were the USA, China, and England with Italy closely following. Although publication was widely spread, most of the institutions with the highest volume of output were in China. Network analysis showed growth in international cooperation with an average degree of country/region cooperation rising to 23.06 by 1 June. There was also a clear core‐periphery structure to international collaboration. Institutional collaboration was shown to be highly regionalized. The data reveal a high and growing incidence of international collaboration on the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "Belt and Road" initiative (BRI) enhances the cooperation between China and countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), and expands the scale of China-invested enterprises in CEE countries continuously. But it also results in the increase in investment risks. Meanwhile, large differences between the international labor market and the domestic employment environment have led to the inadaptability of some enterprises' overseas employment policies, triggering many labor disputes, and producing adverse effects on their overseas business expansion. To resolve the problems, this paper attempts to study the measures to prevent labor employment risks using fuzzy inference system for China-invested enterprises in CEE. For this, it performs analysis for the scale, structure, labor quality, wages and benefits, and labor law system of labor employment in CEE countries, and proposes to prevent and resolve the labor employment risks by strengthening government labor cooperation, familiarizing with local labor law systems, and respecting local management culture etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In early 2017, China officially implemented the pilot program of the construction of climate-resilient cities in 28 regions, and these pilots have taken a series of initiatives to adapt to climate change. Based on the research and practice on climate change adaptation worldwide, this paper constructs an evaluation indicator system for climate-resilient cities with six primary indicators and 15–21 secondary indicators to assess the progress of the pilot program in a comprehensive manner. The study shows that the consciousness of climate adaptation has been strengthened, their adaptive capacity has been improved, and their climate change monitoring capacity and the basic adaptive capacity have been enhanced. Meanwhile, each pilot city has carried out unique system and mechanism innovation and international cooperation and exchange activities, but the progress is uneven, and there is still room for improvement in the overall adaptive capacity. It is recommended that a system for evaluating the progress of the climate-resilient city pilots be established as soon as possible, and that the review of the adaptation actions and highlights of the city pilots be strengthened, so as to raise the political status of the pilot areas and strengthen their consciousness of climate change adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By utilizing panel data of provinces in China from 2012 to 2018, this paper measured innovation efficiency of each regional innovation system and the triple helix relationship of the university‐industry‐government system, then, empirically investigated the influence of the triple helix relationship on regional innovation efficiency. It has been found that: (1) the regional innovation efficiency in China increases slightly year by year, the regional differences are obvious, and university–industry bilateral cooperation is the tightest; (2) cooperation between universities and industries is most beneficial to improve regional innovation efficiency, cooperation between universities and governments significantly promotes scale efficiency in the long run, cooperation between industries and governments significantly promotes regional innovation comprehensive efficiency and pure technical efficiency, meanwhile inhibits scale efficiency, coordinated relation among universities, industries, and governments is beneficial to improve regional innovation comprehensive efficiency and scale efficiency. The research results provide useful theoretical support and policy enlightenment for improving regional innovation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US-China relationship continues to be characterized by both competition and cooperation in recent years. Cooperation in the development sector is one little-known new aspect of such cooperation. This paper therefore examines why and how the two superpowers have undertaken cooperation in trilateral aid projects, and implications for bilateral relations. By tracing China-US policy engagement on development cooperation and examining their most recent trilateral aid project in the Asia-Pacific region, the paper argues that the US aims to use trilateral aid cooperation to engage with China and shape it into a responsible stakeholder, while China uses trilateral cooperation to build a cooperative image and facilitate the broad China-US relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road initiative has a significant focus on infrastructure, trade, and economic development across a vast region, and it also provides significant opportunities for sustainable development. The combined pressure of climate variability, intensified use of resources, and the fragility of ecosystems make it very challenging, however, to achieve future sustainability. To develop the path in a sustainable way, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of these issues across nations and evaluate them in a scientific and well-informed approach. In this context, the Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) program was initiated as an international venture to share expertise, knowledge, technologies, and data to demonstrate the role of Earth observation science and technology and big Earth data applications to support large-scale development. In this paper, we identify pressing challenges, present the research priorities and foci of the DBAR program, and propose solutions where big Earth data can make significant contributions. This paper calls for further joint actions and collaboration to build a digital silk road in support of sustainable development at national, regional and global levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: ‘Community of common destiny’, a new concept in China's diplomacy, has been increasingly used by the Chinese government, especially President Xi Jinping, on international occasions. Given the paucity of academic research on the concept, this paper aims to fill the gap and examine three aspects: meaning, motives and implications. Building upon the author's long observation of China's foreign policy, the paper argues that this concept of ‘community of common destiny’ is vague in meaning and loosely used by China. While initially proposed by China to mend ties with neighbouring states in the context of escalating territorial disputes, the concept constitutes part of China's long‐term strategy to maintain a peaceful ‘period of strategic opportunity’ in the first two to three decades of the 21st century to further develop itself. However, the ambiguity of the concept poses a main challenge for China to promote the acceptance of this concept by the developing world, let alone developed countries. This process demands more transparency, commitment and concrete actions from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China and the eu are important economies and among the greatest green-house gas emitters in the world. Therefore, strengthening cooperation between the eu and China in the renewable field is vital to prevent the earth from getting any warmer. However, the renewable field which include energy equipment, products manufacturing, and operating systems, is a huge market that is worth billions of dollars. Because of their different economic interest, a trade war (anti-dumping and countervailing investigation) broke out between China and eu in the pv industry which includes solar panels, solar glass and solar-grade polysilicon. Could there be cooperation between China and eu Member States in the photovoltaic fields instead of conflict? This paper illustrates the development of pv solar energy and the conflict between eu and China, discusses the main support policies in both the eu and China and their influence on cooperation and conflict, and compares the differences in strengths and weaknesses between the eu and China. This paper draws the conclusion that cooperation between China and the eu in the pv industry could be achieved, and industrial policies should be adjusted in order to avoid or alleviate the conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's massive initiative of the Belt and Road (BRI) is a gigantic leap that is aiming to connect world's 65%population, 30% of global G.D.P and about sixty eight countries that have signed on to be part of this mega project. The China Development Bank has estimated 900 projects that are worth more than a trillion dollars, underway to accomplish dream of 21st century New Silk Road. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the flagship project of BRI, heralded as game changer that will bring prosperity to Pakistan and will turn Gwadar into an economic hub between Africa, West-Asia and South Asia. India opposed China's BRI as well as CPEC to neutralize China's regional and global influence. Modi has shifted from India's Look East to Act-East Policy and introducedMausam and SAGAR projects to counterweight BRI. This paper unfolds reasons of India opposition to BRI as well CPEC by providing readers insights about various Indian foreign policy goals. This paper is an analysis of China's BRI and India's response to contain it. It also highlights the challenges that CPEC is facing due to India intensive diplomatic maneuvers to impede it. The BRI is set to transform China from civilization state to a western style nation state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of financing the Belt and Road Initiative sharpens the broader debates about the intentions behind and implications of the initiative, in particular, whether it represents an alternative to or within globalization (global capitalism) and the broader global order as currently constituted. This paper addresses this by examining the institutions, actors, mechanisms, and nature of the (proposed) financing of Belt and Road projects. It argues that however Chinese rhetoric on the BRI is read, looking at the financing demonstrates the structural power of the existing institutions, structures, and mechanisms of global political economy, and this will constrain Chinese ambitions to base an alternative world order on the foundations of the BRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines China's engagement with Africa through economic zones (EZs). It moves beyond the conceptualisation of EZs as undifferentiated enclaves of foreign investment to a dynamic perspective on the locally negotiated process of zone development. Such a perspective entails critical unpacking of the specific zone regime to understand the diverse and evolving relationships among different state and non-state actors. Drawing upon empirical research on the Eastern Industrial Zone (EIZ) in Ethiopia, we explore the complex process of learning and adaptation by government, developers, investors, and workers throughout the development of a zone regime, with specific attention to capital–labour and expatriate–local relations. We find that despite the EIZ being a state-level cooperation project, private Chinese developers work diligently with the Ethiopian government to improve the institutional support for EZs. Chinese investors also collectively generate a management regime to enhance their overseas operational capacity and experiment with various tactics to transform local recruits into an industrial workforce. Local workers, with limited protection by official labour unions, turn to individual- and group-based agency to improve their working conditions. Despite the momentum created by multiple stakeholders, there are concerns regarding the long-term contributions of EZs to engender sustained industrial transformation and skills development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International cooperation on peacekeeping operations, and on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, is important in tackling global non-traditional security threats. It also helps China address its 'trust deficit' problem. While both operations seem 'low hanging fruit' for international cooperation, the ways in which China undertakes peacekeeping and HADR cooperation differ – the former encompasses not only cooperation for technical and capacity development but also cooperation for policy harmonisation, while China's HADR cooperation is limited to technical and capacity development. This paper asks, 'why the difference?', despite the fact that they both address similar policy problems. It argues that the difference corresponds to the level of holisticity/fragmentation of China's decision-making process. The more holistic China's decision-making process, the deeper the international cooperation. The nature of China's decision-making processes has international policy implications, because the fragmented nature of those processes maintains cooperation at a functional level only, and hinders the deeper development of cooperation into policy harmonisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change in the past one hundred years has brought important influence to the natural ecosystem and social - economic system of the world and China, The impact of future climate change is also long-term and huge, and many effects are negative or adverse. Therefore, from now on we must take measures adapting to climate change to overcome the adverse effects of climate change on social - economic - ecological system, In this paper, starting from the urgency of integrated climate change risk governance, the risk of natural disasters intensifying caused by climate change is briefly described, and engineering and non engineering measures of the integrated climate change risk governance in China's high risk region are proposed, as well as recommendations on integrated risk governance in the eastern, middle and western China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]