Regional Cooperation Research Articles

Fully distributed dynamic event-triggered reliable COR of nonlinear MASs with communication link faults and actuator faults for directed graphs

The issue of fault-tolerant cooperative output regulation (COR) for nonlinear uncertain multiagent systems (MASs) under communication link faults (LFs) and actuator faults is investigated in this paper. This is the first attempt to study the fault-tolerant COR problem for the aforementioned MASs under directed graphs. To handle unknown LFs and avoid using global information, adaptive event-triggered (ET) observers are designed to estimate the exosystem state. That is, resilience against communication LFs is translated to distributed observer design. To overcome the “explosion of complexity” and obtain asymptotically stable results, dynamic surface control (DSC) techniques are introduced. Unlike existing linear DSC techniques that generate boundary layer errors, this paper introduces nonlinear filters with compensation terms into dynamic surfaces to eliminate boundary layer errors. Adaptive control laws that can achieve asymptotically regulated output are then developed based on the improved DSC techniques. It is shown that the developed control strategy can achieve fault-tolerant COR for the considered MASs. Additionally, the implemented dynamic event-triggered mechanism (ETM) ensures strictly positive minimum event-triggered intervals (ETIs) and avoids Zeno behavior. Finally, a practical simulation example reveals the effectiveness of the suggested scheme.

The middle tier of states and the Russia–Ukraine war

Abstract This article examines the concept of the ‘middle tier of states’ proposed by Halford Mackinder in 1919, its failure to prevent German-Soviet Union rapprochement in the interwar years, its recent revival and its geopolitical implications. Mackinder's ‘heartland thesis’ comprises two interrelated parts: the geopolitical significance of the heartland, and the middle tier of states, which he suggested could counteract the pernicious impact of the heartland. Although the middle tier of states paralleled the 1919 Versailles settlement in east-central Europe, its failure to play the role that Mackinder suggested has never been properly investigated. Over the past decade, the middle tier of states has been revived by a range of regional cooperation projects in east-central Europe, while the Russia–Ukraine war attests to its necessity and viability in the current context. The Russia–Ukraine war has shown that a strengthened middle tier of NATO and European Union states will not just reshape the geopolitical landscape of Europe but will have significant implications for world politics.

Nuancing Maritime Security Governance in The Straits of Malacca: A Comparative Analysis on Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore

Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore are littoral states of the Straits of Malacca (SOM), the world’s busiest waterway connecting the Indian and Pacific oceans, with around 80,000 ships passing through this route annually. While maritime security governance of this waterway is a serious concern especially to those states, their responses to it has differed particularly in regard to three security mechanisms: the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), the Malacca Straits Patrol (MSP), and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP). The states’ approaches can be viewed primarily through the lens of sovereign interests, economic interests, and legal obligations. In addition, the role of institutions appears as an intervening factor influencing their responses. This article first analyses maritime security governance and examines why it has garnered much attention in contemporary international relations. Second, it assesses the importance of the SOM as a strategic location, a critical trading route since ancient times, as well as the value it holds for international shipping. Third, it examines the littoral states’ responses to maritime security governance, focusing on the factors influencing them. The article finds that their responses to external power security initiatives differ compared to the indigenous security mechanism in the SOM. Despite that, the underlying theme among the three states is to uphold their obligations as coastal states as provided under UNCLOS and in cooperating with each other and international users, though several caveats do seem to also apply.

A Theoretical Discussion on the Flow of Tourist Population and the Development of Tourism Market in Heilongjiang Province

This paper deeply discusses the basic law of tourist population flow and its influence on the development of tourism market in Heilongjiang Province. Under the background of the vigorous development of global tourism, the flow of tourist population, as the core element of tourism activities, has an important impact on the prosperity and sustainable development of regional tourism market, such as seasonal, spatial distribution and interactive effects. Through the detailed analysis of Heilongjiang tourism market, this paper reveals the market size, resource characteristics, challenges and problems of this market under the action of tourist population flow. Further, this paper analyzes the dual impact of tourist population flow on Heilongjiang tourism market, including the positive effect of promoting local economy, cultural exchange and industrial development, and the negative effect of environmental pressure, over-exploitation of resources and decline of service quality. At the same time, this paper puts forward some strategic suggestions to promote the sustainable development of Heilongjiang tourism market, including rational planning of tourist population flow, strengthening the protection and development of tourism resources, promoting the development of smart tourism, and strengthening regional cooperation and linkage. These suggestions are intended to provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for the scientific planning and management of Heilongjiang's tourism market, and help it achieve long-term prosperity and sustainable development.

Enhancing Network Management Practices in East Africa: A Comprehensive Review

Network management is an integral component of the region’s rapid urbanisation, huge population growth, and technological advancements in East Africa. However, the smooth operation of East African networks is hindered by inadequate infrastructure, complex rules, and cyber-security issues. Both conventional and contemporary technologies are included in the regional network architecture, with mobile networks and fibre optic cables predominating. Among the difficulties are issues with spectrum distribution and regulatory discrepancies, and network management methods differ greatly between carriers. Strategies such as Kenya’s National Optic Fibre Backbone Infrastructure and Rwanda’s Smart Kigali programme are successful initiatives that demonstrate effective ways to develop infrastructure and urban management. Particularly inventive models such as Uganda’s Village Phone programme and Kenya’s M-PESA platform create digital inclusion and economic power. Public-private partnerships facilitate infrastructure development and technology adoption. Network management strategies for Eastern Africa could include the development of rural connectivity projects, policy change for regulatory harmonisation, the use of advanced technologies, capacity-building programmes, and cross-border interactions. This review examines the situation of mobile networks, internet connections, and data centres, as well as other telecommunication network infrastructure, focusing on their existing strong points, weaknesses, and possibilities for further enhancement. Analysing systems of regulations: We used all recently published material (2004–2014) from various highly reliable databases. The findings suggest that adequate measures of network management are required to propel economic growth, digital inclusion, and deeper regional cooperation in East Africa. East African nations may utilise several strategies such as infrastructure development, legislative reforms, technology adoption, capacity building, and collaboration to produce reliable and inclusive communication networks, which will contribute to sustainable development. Keywords: Enhancing, Network, Management, Communication, Cybersecurity, Innovation, East Africa

Comparative legal frameworks for regulating artificial intelligence: A model for harmonizing AI laws in Latin America and Africa

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies advance, the need for comprehensive and harmonized legal frameworks has become paramount. This paper conducts a comparative analysis of the regulatory approaches to AI in Latin America and Africa, regions with unique challenges and opportunities in AI governance. While both regions have shown growing interest in AI, their legal landscapes differ significantly, with fragmented policies and varying levels of enforcement. The analysis reveals that despite these differences, there are common concerns such as data privacy, ethical use, and the impact of AI on labor markets that demand coordinated regulatory responses. The paper proposes a model for harmonizing AI laws between these regions, focusing on fostering cross-regional collaboration, developing shared ethical guidelines, and establishing joint regulatory bodies to ensure consistent enforcement. This model aims to balance innovation with the protection of fundamental rights, drawing on successful frameworks from other jurisdictions while adapting to the socio-economic contexts of Latin America and Africa. The harmonization of AI laws is not only essential for mitigating risks associated with AI but also for promoting economic integration and technological collaboration between these regions. By aligning their regulatory approaches, Latin America and Africa can better position themselves in the global AI landscape, ensuring that AI development is inclusive, ethical, and sustainable. The paper concludes by highlighting the importance of regional cooperation in AI governance and the potential of a harmonized legal framework to foster innovation while safeguarding public interest. This comparative study serves as a foundational step towards creating a unified AI regulatory environment that can effectively address the complexities of AI technologies and their socio-economic impacts across these two diverse regions.

THE ROLE OF MONGOLIA IN REGIONAL SECURITY

The situation in Northeast Asia is an important topic of international security arena. Political and economic relations between Russia and China, as well as the Korean Peninsula issue, which can have a major impact in Northeast Asia as such powerful actors that can change the world order and security environment. Past decades, the peace policy of mutual trust between the countries of the Northeast Asian region has become the most important issue not only in the regional but also in the international security environment. Therefore, it is important to analyze and assess a strategic interests and international geopolitical ambition of major powers that could directly or indirectly affect Mongolia's national security to develop national strategic solutions to enhance Mongolia’s national security and its security environment. Mongolia has no territorial, economic, military or political conflicts of interest with any of the countries in the region. Such reasons can give Mongolia an opportunity to be a key player in confidence-building measures to prevent hostilities, to avert escalation, to reduce military tension in Northeast Asia. There are many ways and fields to operate as peace player in this region. For instance, Mongolia can be an initiator or a main actor of a regional peacekeeping cooperation organization in Northeast Asia.

How does regional cooperation affect green total factor productivity?—Evidence from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay area in China

As a key regional development strategy, regional cooperation affects the sustainable development of city-regions. This study uses social network analysis, spatial analysis, and negative binomial regression analysis to investigate the impacts of regional cooperation on green total factor productivity (GTFP) in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The main findings are as follows. First, regional cooperation is growing closer, unfolding a trend of networked and polycentric development patterns in the GBA. Second, the GTFP of most cities exhibits an upward trend, indicating a continuous improvement in green economic development in the GBA. Third, different types of regional cooperation have heterogeneous impacts on GTFP, with economic cooperation being essential for regional GTFP. Overall, this study provides a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the environmental effects of regional cooperation.

Research on the Path of Promoting Regional Financial Balance under the Background of the Digital Economy

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effective path to promote the balanced development of regional financial resources in the context of the digital economy. With the rapid development and wide application of digital technology, the digital economy has become a new engine to promote economic growth, but at the same time, it has also exacerbated the imbalance in the distribution of financial resources among regions. By analyzing the profound impact of the digital economy on the regional economic landscape, the study proposes strategies to optimize resource allocation, promote industrial upgrading, and broaden financing channels by using advanced technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence, aiming at narrowing the gap in regional financial resources and achieving more balanced development. At the same time, the importance of policy guidance, regional cooperation, and talent cultivation is emphasized to provide theoretical support and practical paths for constructing a new pattern of balanced development of regional financial resources in the era of the digital economy.

Efektivitas Manajemen Organisasi Pelayanan Publik pada Perencanaan dan Pengawasan Pembangunan Daerah B

Village Community Empowerment (LPMK) is an independent community social institution as a forum for participation by residents and Village partners to realize the aspirations of community needs in the field of development. The implementation of Musrenbang must be carried out by supporting efforts to prevent corruption, so that it is hoped that the targets in the focus of State Finance can be achieved well. After presenting the results of the research and discussing them, it can be concluded that the Musrenbang process has been running with fairly good community involvement. Even though the Musrenbang is already quite large, namely approximately 50% - 70%, efforts are still needed to increase the role of RT, RW and LPMK in area B in the Musrenbang process. Pramusrembang needs to involve mass organizations/institutions/associations and business actors in the region as a form of regional cooperation and a form of channeling to complement the realization of physical/non-physical activities that cannot be handled by budget implementers from Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD). Campus

A Simple Theory of Deep Trade Integration

Abstract Which countries should aim for regulatory cooperation, and to what extent should they pursue it? We develop an imperfectly competitive trade model that accounts for differences in technology and regulatory preferences regarding local consumption externalities across countries. Each country sets unique product standards, and firms incur costs when tailoring products to different markets. Trade occurs when the benefits of comparative advantages outweigh the desire for asymmetric regulations. Our findings indicate that regulatory cooperation, defined as the cooperative setting of standards, is most advantageous for countries with moderate differences in regulatory preferences. Shallow integration, however, falls short of achieving the optimal planner’s solution. Countries with strong comparative advantages in distinct externality-generating goods can pursue deeper regulatory cooperation through mutual regulatory concessions. Additionally, when regulatory preferences are highly dispersed, international cooperation tends to form regulatory blocs.

Zachowując wspólne więzi: dyplomacja publiczna Turcji w Azji Środkowej

This article aims to analyse and assess the effectiveness of activities undertaken by Turkish public diplomacy organisations in Central Asia. Since the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power in Turkey in 2002, the state’s foreign policy doctrine has changed profoundly. The new government has adopted a program of active and multifaceted diplomacy, seeking to improve mutual relations with neighbouring regions (i.e. Middle East, North Africa, Balkans, Caucasus, Central Asia). Historical, social and cultural references play an extremely important role in the AKP’s political strategy, and numerous public diplomacy organisations promote Turkish regional cooperation initiatives on behalf of the authorities in Ankara. In Central Asia, institutions such as the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, the International Organisation of Turkic Culture, the Yunus Emre Institute, the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, ensure that ties between Turkey and countries of the region are being preserved. By utilising Turkish soft power potential, these organisations support traditional diplomatic services in implementing Turkey’s foreign policy objectives.

Regions of Italy in Context of Italian-Chinese Relations in 21st Century

This study examines the development of transregional relations between the regions of Italy and those of China, including the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau. It highlights the interplay between centrifugal and centripetal tendencies within the framework of Italy’s ‘center — regions’ relationship system. The analysis provides insights into the normative foundations of international and foreign policy activities of Italy’s territorial communities, grounded in the national Constitution and relevant legislation. The findings demonstrate that Italian regions possess very limited capabilities for independent foreign and economic policy initiatives, a restriction stemming from the Italian Constitution, which permits regional cooperation only in the realms of economy and culture. In contrast, among the regions of China, only Hong Kong and Macau exhibit the capacity for autonomous external activities. Furthermore, it is revealed that Chinese migrants in Italy play a significant role in fostering Italian-Chinese interregional ties, maintaining connections with their homeland. The study concludes that Italian regions are notably less active internationally compared to regions in other EU countries.

Renewable Energy Consumption, Climate Change, and Economic Growth: A Case of Selected Countries

This research examines the nexus between renewable energy consumption, climate change, and economic growth across 88 countries, categorized by income levels (high, upper-middle, lower-middle, low, and Arab countries) from 1990-2020. Using the Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (PARDL) model, the study captures both short- and long-term relationships among the variables. Key findings reveal that economic growth is linked to rising temperatures, while the impact on precipitation varies across income groups. Non-renewable energy consumption has mixed effects: it mitigates climate change in developed countries but exacerbates pollution in developing nations. Conversely, renewable energy lowers average temperatures in lower-income countries, but in high-income countries, it shows positive correlations with climate change indicators. The significant error correction terms across all panels indicate a quick adjustment toward long-run equilibrium. The study underscores the need for tailored climate and energy strategies, advocating for increased renewable energy infrastructure in developing countries and improved energy efficiency in developed nations. For Arab countries, which face specific climate risks, enhanced regional cooperation on mitigation measures is recommended. This research emphasizes that addressing climate change requires strategies that consider the distinct economic and environmental contexts of different country groups.

Spatial–Temporal Development Trends and Influencing Factors of Government Environmental Information Disclosure: Empirical Evidence Based on China’s Provincial Panel Data

Government environmental information disclosure (GEID) plays an important role in promoting the digital transformation of environmental governance, leading the concept of sustainable development, enhancing public oversight capacity, and promoting democratic decision-making governance. Using provincial panel data from China spanning from 2009 to 2021, we conducted spatial data exploratory analysis and used the dynamic spatial panel model to investigate the spatial–temporal development trends and influencing factors of GEID. The results show that (1) GEID in China exhibits significant spatial agglomeration characteristics, with an “H-H” (High-High aggregation type) agglomeration characteristic observed in three national strategic development regions: Yangtze River Delta, southeast coastal areas, and Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. (2) The spillover effect from the southeast coastal provinces gradually radiates to the northwest, resulting in an overall westward movement of GEID. (3) GEID exhibits a significant path-dependency feature in the temporal dimension and a “peer effect” in the spatial dimension. (4) Population size has the greatest impact on GEID. Population size, public participation, and the industrial and transportation sectors positively influence GEID improvement at the local level. However, they generate negative spillover effects to neighbouring provinces. Environmental status and the size of the Real Estate sector have no significant effect. Therefore, China should strengthen regional cooperation, narrow regional disparities, cultivate new quality productive forces, establish a government-led proactive disclosure mechanism under public supervision, and improve the level of GEID at the national level.

A Study of Latin American Integration: Current Status, Challenges and Causes

Latin America and the Caribbean, as the first region among developing countries to practice integration, have shown a segmented development trend due to specific historical contexts. In the post-pandemic era, the development of Latin America has been severely impacted by the pandemic. The development model, where individual nations prioritize national interests over regional ones, has caused stagnation or even regression in Latin American integration. This paper will analyze the current state of Latin American integration from three perspectives: economic, political, and social. Economically, the recovery pace in Latin America lags behind other regions globally. Although there has been some economic rebound, the recovery remains weak, and economic growth continues to slow. Politically, several countries are holding elections this year. Despite the dominance of left-wing forces, right-wing forces are showing signs of gaining momentum, leading to intense struggles between left and right, impacting political stability. Socially, the poverty rate in Latin America remains high, compounded by new issues such as population aging and social stability. In the context of globalization, regional cooperation is a crucial means for countries to promote coordinated economic development and reduce development gaps among member states. It aids in the development of member states and enhances international competitiveness. Actively promoting Latin American integration is beneficial for the region's economic recovery.

Impacts of Urbanization on Energy Consumption in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Zone

Energy resources play a vital role in the process of urbanization, and the high level of energy consumption has significantly created an alarming situation for environmental degradation. Increased demand for energy consumption in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) zone is a core concern for decreasing the existing reserves of energy, especially nonrenewable energy, when the growth of urbanization is increasing also. This study investigates the impacts of urbanization on energy consumption in this region by identifying factors that influence energy use. We employed globally used econometric techniques to examine the relationship between energy use and urbanization. The results of the study indicate that all the independent variables used in the model (except urban population growth) were statistically significant with a 99% level of confidence. In addition, the findings of this study recognized three long-run causalities running from the GDP (gross domestic product) to energy consumption, energy consumption to GDP, and energy consumption to the industry’s share of the countries’ GDP. We recommend (i) taking the initiative to invest in renewable energy, (ii) implementing green energy-efficient technologies in the industrial sector, and (iii) raising public awareness of the negative effects of energy use on the environment through education.

Research on China-Sri Lanka Economic and Trade Cooperation Based on SWOT Analysis

This paper systematically explores the economic and trade cooperation between China and Sri Lanka based on the SWOT analysis framework. Against the backdrop of globalization and the “Belt and Road” initiative, China-Sri Lanka economic and trade cooperation shows great potential and broad prospects. By using the SWOT analysis method, the paper comprehensively analyzes the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of China-Sri Lanka economic and trade cooperation. The strengths include complementary geographical locations, complementary trade structures, and a solid foundation of political mutual trust; the weaknesses mainly lie in trade imbalances, unstable investment environments, and cultural and communication barriers; opportunities mainly arise from the promotion of the “Belt and Road” initiative, the deepening of regional cooperation, and changes in the global trade pattern; threats mainly come from changes in the international political and economic environment, external shocks such as pandemics, and the rise of trade protectionism. Finally, the paper proposes targeted strategic suggestions based on the actual situation, aiming to promote the sustainable and healthy development of China-Sri Lanka economic and trade cooperation and enhance the economic prosperity and well-being of the two countries.

Research on the Brand Spillover Effect and Regional Differences of Geographical Indication Agricultural Products in Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Henan Regions of China under the Background of Rural Revitalization

[Purpose]This study aims to evaluate the role of the brand strategy for geographical indication(GI) agricultural products in rural revitalization, particularly through an empirical analysis of the brand spillover effects of GI agricultural products in Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Henan provinces, thereby providing a scientific basis for agricultural high-quality development and rural revitalization strategy formulation. [Methodology]A quantitative analysis approach was employed, involving the collection and analysis of market data on GI agricultural products from the three provinces. This analysis assessed their market performance, brand effects, and their impact on agricultural economics and farmers' incomes. Furthermore, the specific role of regional disparities in shaping the brand spillover effects was explored. [Results]The study found that the overall performance of the GI agricultural product markets in the three provinces was positive, with notable brand spillover effects that significantly contributed to the promotion of agricultural economics. However, regional variations in brand development emerged, with cities like Xi'an, Datong, and Zhengzhou exhibiting particularly prominent brand effects, whereas other cities demonstrated less evident brand impacts, indicating a regionalized trend. [Conclusion] The study concludes that the brand spillover effects of GI agricultural products are positively correlated with rural revitalization development, serving as a crucial factor in enhancing agricultural competitiveness and promoting farmers' income. It is recommended that, in light of regional disparities, differentiated brand development strategies be adopted, accompanied by strengthened regional cooperation, to fully leverage the brand advantages of GI agricultural products and facilitate the in-depth implementation of rural revitalization strategies.

A landscape conservation perspective of state Species of Greatest Conservation Need

AbstractState Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs), including lists of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), outline state strategies for protecting species and habitats in the United States. In developing the current, second revision SWAPs, states are increasingly pursuing coordinated landscape conservation approaches. Analyzing SGCN lists in the first revision SWAPs, we found evidence that they already support multistate conservation. Most states address a common set of vertebrate and invertebrate groups, include most of the imperiled species from these groups, do not prioritize endemics over non‐endemics, and often include most imperiled species that are shared with neighboring states. Also, a regional SGCN coordination effort was successful. Although 65% of animals on each SGCN list were assessed as at elevated risk of extirpation by state authorities, only 43% of the combined national list were at elevated risk of global extinction. Over 40% of the combined animal SGCNs are considered globally apparently secure. Plants, snails, freshwater shrimps, and freshwater insects were poorly represented in SGCN lists. For the current SWAP revisions, we recommend improving foundational data on taxonomy, range‐wide distribution, and conservation status; expanded taxonomic coverage in SGCN lists; supporting existing and establishing new interstate initiatives; and diversifying funding mechanisms that target regional cooperation.