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CHINA'S BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE > 10: TOWARDS A SINO-CENTRIC WORLD ORDER?

When: —
Venue: Birkbeck Central

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CHINA’S BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE > 10: TOWARDS A SINO-CENTRIC WORLD ORDER?

Tuesday, 11 June 2024, 18:00-19:30, Online

As China’s “project of the century”, many regard the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as Beijing's meticulously crafted grand strategy aimed at establishing a Sino-centric global order. However, this perspective oversimplifies the complexity of the initiative. This talk aims to debunk this notion and present the BRI as a multifaceted slogan, inherently fluid and open to diverse interpretations. Furthermore, it will delve into the evolution of the BRI over the past decade, shedding light on its transformative journey. By examining its historical trajectory, the talk will discuss the potential directions of its future development and offer a nuanced understanding of the BRI beyond conventional narratives.

 

Speaker: Professor Jinghan Zeng (Lancaster University)

Discussant: Dr David Styan (Birkbeck, University of London) 

 

Jinghan Zeng is Professor of China and International Studies at Lancaster University. He is the author of several books including Artificial Intelligence with Chinese Characteristics: National Strategy, Security and Authoritarian Governance (2022), Slogan Politics: Understanding Chinese Foreign Policy Concepts (2020) and The Chinese Communist Party's Capacity to Rule: Ideology, Legitimacy and Party Cohesion (2015). He is also the co-editor of One Belt, One Road, One Story? Towards an EU-China Strategic Narrative (2021). Professor Zeng has published over thirty refereed articles in leading journals of politics, international relations and area studies including The Pacific Review, International Affairs, JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, and Third World Quarterly. He has secured funding from a variety of international sources, including the European Commission, Schmidt Futures (US) and Social Science Foundation of China. 

 

Professor Zeng draws on his research to connect with audiences beyond academia. He has testified before the UK Parliament and advised United Nations, Cabinet Office (UK) and Foreign & Commonwealth Office (UK). He regularly appears in TV and radio broadcasts including the BBC, ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, Asharq News, China Global Television Network (CGTN) and Voice of America. He has written op-ed articles for The Diplomat, BBC (Chinese), The Conversation, Nikkei Asia, Policy Forum, Korea on Point among others. At Lancaster University, Professor Zeng also holds the position of Academic Director of China Engagement and serves as the Director of Lancaster University Confucius Institute. Before embarking on his academic career, he worked for the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs in New York City.

 

Note: This is an online event. All welcome to join via the MS Teams link provided.

 

 

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