News Sarah Wood News Sarah Wood

A new article by Dr Oliver Hayakawa examining linkages between China and Palestinian trade in the West Bank

The Mapping Connections Project is pleased to announce the recent publication of an article by Dr. Oliver Hayakawa in the journal Mediterranean Politics. Oliver is an ECR on the project and a Lecturer in International Relations on the joint degree programme 'International Governance and Public Policy' delivered in partnership between the University of Keele, UK, and Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), China.

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Journal Articles & Book Chapters Safa Joudeh Journal Articles & Book Chapters Safa Joudeh

Understanding Chinese Industrial Zone Practices from an Egyptian Perspective

This paper examines China's overseas industrial zone in Egypt from a local perspective, assessing whether Belt and Road (BRI)-linked zones have effectively responded to local needs and development objectives. China’s industrial parks under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) have facilitated Chinese investment abroad while aiming to support host countries' industrialisation, but their effectiveness varies.

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Working Paper Javier Guirado Alonso Working Paper Javier Guirado Alonso

High Beams in Oman. How China and Green Energy Have Opened a New Economic Corridor in the Arabian Peninsula

This working paper explores the new frontiers of green capitalism in the Arabian Peninsula by taking Ibri II as a case study. Ibri II is a solar plant inaugurated in Oman in 2022 with seed funding provided by China. Its establishment has facilitated the development of a land corridor that links Saudi Arabia to Oman through a new highway, connecting Red Sea and Indian Ocean trade routes and reshaping the economic geography of the Arabian Peninsula.

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Working Paper Zaynab El Bernoussi Working Paper Zaynab El Bernoussi

The Expansion of Halal Certification: China and the Prospect of Halal Diplomacy

Halal is principally a standard of what is permissible for consumption and use in Islam. It presents both a growth opportunity for different social actors (firms, government institutions, consumers) and is also becoming a trend in its own right. This working paper explores the general expansion of global halal markets, focusing particularly on halal food. It provides an overview of the crucial role of actors engaged in halal certification and quality standardization, and analyzes the possibility of China emerging as a major player in the global halal industry, particularly in the MENA region.

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Blogs Abdelhamid Mecheri Blogs Abdelhamid Mecheri

Connecting Stories: The Role of Memory Narratives in Promoting the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab Region

This next instalment of blog pieces developed by participants at the Mapping Connections Institute presents an analysis of China's memory narratives and their role in supporting Sino-Arab diplomatic and economic initiatives. It is written by Abdelhamid Mecheri, a Lecturer at Boumerdes University (UMBB), Algeria

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Blogs Francesco Amoruso Blogs Francesco Amoruso

In the Middle East, the Old Is Dying and the New Cannot Be Born

Over the coming weeks, we will be presenting blogs written by participants at the Mapping Connections Institute, held in Beirut between 27-30 May 2024 as part of the Inter-Asia Partnership's (IAP) 'Inter-Asia Week'. The first of these explores the new regional dynamics of the Middle East in light of the war in Gaza and heightening US-China rivalries.

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