#54 – The Future of Sino-Russian Energy Ties

 

 

event #54, Wednesday, September 21st, 2016

Speaker

WANG Tao, 王韬 Assistant Director, Yicai Research Institute; Nonresident Scholar, Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy.

 

ABSTRACT

 

China used to call Russia, or the former USSR, the “Old Brother”, but not anymore. The most recent self-claimed title of Russia is an “Elder Sister” of China, which tries to reflect a position that is weaker in power yet respectfully senior, nor is this accepted by China. Whatever comfortable term these two nations will eventually choose aligning their respective positions, it is undoubted in others eye that the “rapprochement” between Moscow and Beijing is one of the most notable trends in the global politics since 2014, and has the potential to significantly change the gravity of geopolitics in North and Northeast Asia.

 

The energy tie between China and Russia reflects their mutual demands of cooperation in political, security and economic dimensions. Therefore it cannot be viewed from only one of them. For both nations, the opaque decision making process in their governments, as well as in their powerful NOCs may not always ensure good communication and understanding, sometimes they may even be at odds in their own interests. So distrust will always find place between Beijing and Moscow. Uncertainty in the progress of China’s economic transition and SOE reform, and the energy technology development in the next few years may also lead to very different future scenarios that could either further strengthen or destruct the energy tie between China and Russia. But in the next years to come, the world should not be surprised if there were more energy deals signed between the two.     

 
  

This event is organized in partnership with:

 

Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy – 清华-卡内基全球政策中心

 

The Carnegie–Tsinghua Center for Global Policy brings together leading policy experts and practitioners from China and around the world to engage in collaborative dialogue and research. From its platform at Tsinghua University, the center works to identify constructive solutions to common global challenges. The Carnegie–Tsinghua Center is also part of Carnegie’s well-established Asia Program, which provides clear and precise analysis to policy-makers on the economic, security, and political developments in the Asia-Pacific region.The Carnegie–Tsinghua Center works with Carnegie’s other global centers to host conferences, roundtables, seminars, and closed-door briefings and to publish timely and incisive analysis on the most pressing global issues, including international economics and trade; energy and climate change; nonproliferation and arms control; and security threats in North Korea, Iran, South Asia, and the Middle East. An advisory council composed of distinguished leaders from the policy, business, and academic communities in China provides the Carnegie–Tsinghua Center with advice and support.

 

 

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