New Zealand, China and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road
Jointly organised by the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Date: Wednesday, 8 August 2018, 10 am to 5 pm
Venue: Hunter Council Chamber, Victoria University of Wellington
The 21st Maritime Silk Road (MSR) is the maritime arm of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It seeks to build economic connectivity, promote development and improve economic relations between maritime nations and China. In 2015, a Southern Route was added to MSR conceptually linking China to the economies of the South Pacific. In March 2017, New Zealand became the first western nation to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with China on the MSR, beginning a discussion about our participation that continues to this day.
At one level, the discussion appears simple. China’s proposal presents an opportunity for New Zealand to further its economic partnership whilst promoting regional economic integration and development. At another level, however, China’s first major regional initiative presents a unique set of circumstances for New Zealand to consider.
- What drives China’s most ambitious regional economic initiative to date and what concepts underpin it?
- How will MSR projects impact regional development and existing relations?
- How does the MSR intersect with existing regional economic architecture and the rules based trading system?
- What is the MSR’s proposed value-add for New Zealand and the region and how does this differ from business as usual?
This conference brings together leading researchers from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and New Zealand scholars and practitioners working on BRI issues to discuss the MSR proposal and New Zealand’s role in it.
Speakers
Welcome
Tony Browne, Chair, New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre
Introductory Remarks
WANG Yuzhu, Research Fellow, National Institute of International Strategy, CASS
Title: China, New Zealand Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative: Potential and Prospect
Jason Young, Director, New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre
Title: The Belt and Road Initiative: A New Zealand Appraisal
Panel 1: The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road
Chair: WANG Yuzhu, Research Fellow, National Institute of International Strategy, CASS
ZHONG Feiteng, Research Fellow, National Institute of International Strategy, CASS
Title: The Belt and Road Initiative and China’s Peaceful Development
Pip McLachlan, Director, Engagement and Research, Asia New Zealand Foundation
Title: Cognitive Dissonance on the Belt and Road
Xiaoming Huang, Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Victoria University of Wellington
Title: The Belt and Road Initiative: A Political Economic Perspective
Panel 2: The Southern Route of the Maritime Silk Road
Chair: Jason Young, Director, New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre
Marc Lanteigne, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Massey University
Title: Latin America and the Belt and Road's Southern Tier
WANG Bijun, Associate Research Fellow, Institute of World Economics and Politics, CASS
Title: Outward Direct Investment: Restricted (1978-1999), Relaxed (2000-2016) and Regulated (2016 onwards) Stages of Development
Anna Powles, Senior Lecturer Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Massey University
Title: The Pacific Islands and the Belt and Road Initiative
Stephen Noakes, Senior Lecturer, Politics and International Relations and Asian Studies, University of Auckland
Title: Understanding China's Development Aid: Lessons for and from the Pacific Islands
Panel 3: New Zealand and the Maritime Silk Road
Chair: Duncan Campbell
LIU Jiajun, Assistant Research Fellow, Institute of Industrial Economics, CASS
Title: Research on the Cooperation Mode between Chinese and Foreign Industrial Parks along the Belt and Road
Stephanie Honey, Principal at Honey Consulting
Title: Navigating trade in turbulent times: Opportunities along the Belt and Road
ZHAO Jingqiao, Assistant Research Fellow, National Institute of Economic Strategy, CASS
Title: Digital Economy: The Development of China and the Opportunity of the Belt and Road Country
Stephen Jacobi, Executive Director, New Zealand China Council
Title: Belt and Road—A Strategic Pathway for New Zealand
Closing Remarks
WANG Yuzhu, Research Fellow, National Institute of International Strategy, CASS
Jason Young, Director, New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre
Registration
If you are interested in attending, please email Lai Ching Tan or call her at 04 463 9549 to register.