Cooperation Zone Research Articles

Macau's sustainability and diversification.

We analyze the socio-economic development of Macau after the return to Chinese sovereignty from the three dimensions of sustainability (economy, society, and environment). Macau's economy has both high growth and high volatility, mainly due to its unbalanced industrial structure and vulnerability to external shocks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer confidence declined, due to the rising and high unemployment rate, while the environment has been relatively good since air quality became better. The overall assessment of sustainable city competitiveness of Macau has slipped gradually. This suggests that Macau's factor endowment structure has reached its upper limit and needs to be changed through internal industrial pluralism and external regional deepening (e.g., Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin) to promote the moderately diversified and sustainable development of the economy.

The Sino-Egyptian Suez Zone of Trade and Economic Cooperation as a promising model of economic development in Africa

The object of the study is the economic development of Africa within the framework of Sino-African cooperation. The subject of the study is the development of special economic zones created by Chinese-African cooperation. The purpose of the work is to study the possibility of creating special economic zones within the framework of Sino-African cooperation as a promising model for the economic development of Africa. The author examines in detail such aspects of the topic as the process of creating the Sino-Egyptian Suez Zone of trade and economic cooperation, as well as some problems existing in the functioning of the zone. Special attention is paid to the successful experience of the functioning of China's special economic zones, as well as to the analysis of the possibility of applying Chinese experience to special economic zones in Africa. In this work, the author used such methods as analysis, synthesis of information from documents, comparison, induction and deduction. The novelty of this study lies in the fact that the work compares China's special economic zones with those in Africa and analyzes the applicability of China's experience on the African continent, which gives possible promising models for the future economic development of Africa. The main conclusion of the study is a framework model for the rational development of economic zones in Africa, which includes the following elements: the choice of a location with the advantages of location for economic zones; the integration of special economic zones into a broader national policy in the field of economy, industry and urbanization, in order to prevent the transformation of special economic zones into "economic enclaves"; persistent experiments of political and administrative reforms and rapid dissemination of the successful experience gained in the economic zones throughout the country; support for the continuous development of infrastructure construction covering the economic zones and nearby cities as a catalyst for the sustainable development of the economic zones.

Theoretical and Methodological Aspects of Regionalism: Problems of Interaction of Border Regions

The scientific literature presents various definitions of the concepts of ‘regionalism’, ‘regionalization’ and ‘interregional interaction’. The processes associated with globalization and integration manifest themselves in the form of consolidation of macro-regional ties. The formation of big macroeconomic zones of priority cooperation covers neighbouring and geographically close countries. The consolidation of large economic spaces is accompanied by the creation of regional economic organizations and integration communities aimed at deepening trade, economic cooperation and regional division of labour.
 In parallel with the formation of large economic and political regional associations at the macro level, globalization has accelerated the process of diversification of territorial administration functions within individual states. The redistribution of power within individual countries is seen as a parallel process of regionalization at the grassroots level. The signs of regionalism at the micro level include the increasing role of subnational territorial communities, the growth of their interest in establishing closer cooperation with the border territories of neighboring countries.
 In the most general sense, the author considers regionalism as a dynamic feature of international political and economic processes, indicated by the diversification of management functions at different levels of socio-political organization. The methodology of political science distinguishes the manifestations of regionalisms at the macro and micro levels. Various manifestations of regionalism are embodied in the design of large economic spaces, the redistribution of power within individual countries, increasing the level of regional self-government, development of interregional contacts and interregional integration ties between neighbouring and/or geographically close countries.
 The practice of interregional cooperation is most successfully applied within the framework of multilateral integration associations, primarily in the EU and in the wider European space covered by the scope of European conventions and decisions in the field of spatial cooperation of territorial communities and authorities, including local and regional self-government. Interaction between subnational regions includes the conclusion of agreements between territorial communities of neighbouring countries, the creation of interregional associations and contractual networks of interregional cooperation.

China's policy towards Myanmar: Yunnan’s commitment to Sino-Myanmar oil and gas pipelines and Border Economic Cooperation Zone

ABSTRACT This paper examines how China has conducted its diplomacy with Myanmar through the efforts of the Chinese central government and the local government of Yunnan Province, which borders Myanmar. China has defined Myanmar as a country of strategic importance in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and is deepening its economic cooperation with Myanmar. China’s most important project in Myanmar is the oil and gas pipelines from ports in Myanmar to Yunnan Province. The construction of the energy pipelines was drafted and proposed by Yunnan Province and was submitted to the State Council. Due to the strong support of the state-owned enterprise, the proposal was adopted as a national project within two years since its proposal. In addition, Yunnan continued to propose to the central government for the construction of a Border Economic Cooperation Zone. The government of Dehong State in Yunnan proposed the plan to the Yunnan local government. Then, Yunnan continuously proposed it to the State Council. Yunnan could not get the strong support of Chinese major state-owned enterprises and the Myanmar government. It took nearly two decades for the proposal to be approved as one of the national projects by Beijing. In China, local governments can be involved in foreign economic relations within their capacity and responsibility for local socio-economic development. In the context of Beijing’s emphasis on strengthening relations with Southeast Asian countries, there are fair chances that Chinese local government proposals will be directly incorporated into the central government’s strategy.

Strengthening ZOPACAS: the Maritime Safety Roadmap for the South Atlantic

Population growth poses one of the greatest challenges for human survival in the 21st Century and, increasingly, man is turning to the sea for food and energy. As the ocean has no physical boundaries, it is inevitable that some of these activities will affect the seashore and jurisdictional waters of coastal States, negatively affecting those nations’ territorial waters, with all the economic and social ramifications that entails. Recent studies point to most threats to maritime jurisdictions coming from undetected acts perpetrated on the high seas. Therefore, this article looks at potential threats in this domain and measures to mitigate those threats, in full compliance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. That fact, and the limitations imposed by international law, make it impossible for any one country to address these issues alone. Increasingly States need the support of hemispheric alliances, such as the Organization of American States, and transboundary water agreements such as the South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone. Leveraging those alliances and agreements to reinforce maritime safety is the surest way to foster cooperation among developing nations, including those with coasts along the South Atlantic, and to prevent maritime threats from undermining their future.

Regional Development of Liaoning Province and Partnership with Russia (1990s to present)

The implementation of regional transformation plans in Liaoning province aims to create a digital intelligent manufacturing center, a comprehensive revitalization area in Northeast China, an international shipping center in Northeast Asia, and a maritime economic development cooperation zone. Particular attention is paid to the system of interregional interaction with Russian regions. The modern development of Liaoning province in cooperation with the regions of the world is built on the basis of the implementation of the global project of the New Silk Road. The geographical advantages of the province, developed infrastructure, the presence of many ports (Jinzhou, Dandong, Dalian, Yingkou) and a developed network of railways — all this creates serious advantages for Liaoning province over other regions of China. The Chinese side was interested in bringing the dialogue with Russia's sister regions from the category of humanitarian cooperation into a system of multi-vector partnership interaction. Novosibirsk and Irkutsk regions were assigned to Liaoning province as "sister cities", cooperation with which since the early 1990s. developed in various directions. The experience accumulated over the past decades of inter-regional "sister-city" partnership cooperation between the province of Liaoning and the Irkutsk and Novosibirsk regions can serve as a basis for further cooperation between Liaoning and the Russian regions. Promising areas for inter-regional cooperation between Liaoning Province and Russia are activities to expand foreign direct investment in energy-producing regions such as Siberia; reform and improvement of free trade zones in Liaoning province, focused on cooperation with Russia; regular communication with representatives of the administration of the Russian regions on the One Belt, One Road information platforms; strengthening the technical and cultural exchange between the enterprises of Liaoning Province and the enterprises of the Russian regions.

Modelling economic structure: the perspective of tourist cities

This study uses a theoretical method and also mathematical programming (MP) models to assess the polarisation of Macao’s tourism industry in terms of economic realism, with Las Vegas as a reference. The industrial polarization of Macao’s gaming industry has led to a serious imbalance in the development of the city’s industrial structure. The author posits that market structures in the two locations vary in significant ways. Due to diverse market circumstances, including tourist amenities and consumer preferences, push forces are prominent in Macao, whereas pull forces are essential in Las Vegas. As such, Macao cannot and should not endeavour to reach the same level of diversification as Las Vegas due to the possible adverse consequences of being economically non-viable because of differences in market circumstances. These theoretical implications have been validated in reality in recent years. Indeed, the emergence of up-to-date resort assets have reinforced, rather than alleviated, the specialisation of Macao’s hospitality sector. The results suggest that casino tourism in Macao will continue to expand in a polarised fashion. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Macao’s diversification, although politically mandated, is economically realistic. With the implementation of policies such as the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and the Guangdong–Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, it is hoped that the study’s policy relevance will become increasingly apparent in the coming years.

An Analysis of the Influencing Factors in the Establishment of the Overseas Agricultural Cooperation Zones under the Belt and Road Initiative Based on Logit Model

A total of 57 overseas agricultural cooperation zones have been selected from 68 countries along the Belt and Road and extended areas from 2006 to 2018 as samples, and the corresponding indexes of bilateral trade in agricultural products, agricultural resource endowments, labor resources, infrastructure, and economic freedom have been chosen for parameter estimation based on the maximum likelihood method under the Logit model for an empirical analysis of the main influencing factors in the establishment of the overseas agricultural cooperation zones. The empirical analysis results indicate that the total import and export trade volume of agricultural products, agricultural land area, and labor resources of the host country have a significant promoting effect on the establishment of overseas agricultural cooperation zones. The economic freedom index has a significant negative impact on the establishment of overseas agricultural cooperation zones, while the port throughput has no significant impact. China should consider several main factors when selecting a host country to establish overseas agricultural cooperation zones, including bilateral trade volume of agricultural products, agricultural resource endowments, labor resources, and economic freedom of the host country, which can provide reference for the spatial layout of the overseas agricultural cooperation zones.

Unravelling Local Dynamics in the Sino-North Korean Border Region

ABSTRACT Contrary to the conventional understanding of North Korean borders as classic barriers that block infiltration of outside influences, this paper argues that the Sino-North Korean border region has undergone considerable transformations, especially at the local level. By analysing local-level trans-border activities, it shows that North Korea seeks to develop the Sino-North Korean border region as a space of opportunity. Even the heightened political conflicts between China and North Korea and the tightened international sanctions against North Korea failed to dampen local actors’ economic imperatives, particularly after the 2012 and 2013 decentralisations in North Korea. Local actors were active in driving trans-border economic practices and, in turn, transformed the Sino-North Korean border region into potential cross-border cooperation zones. Although there has been conflict and competition in border region development between North Korea and China, we argue that local governments and entrepreneurs’ efforts to maximise economic independence in the border regions are persisting, and their geo-economic imperatives are important factors in reshaping the Sino-North Korean border region by initiating and advancing trans-border interactions.

Integrating Sponge City Concept and Neural Network into Land Suitability Assessment: Evidence from a Satellite Town of Shenzhen Metropolitan Area

Land suitability assessment is fundamental in space control planning and land development because of its effects on land use and urban layout. Rainstorms and waterlogging have become one of the most common natural disasters in the coastal areas of China. As a result, the concept of an ecological sponge city was incorporated into the construction of cities in the future. Taking Shenzhen–Shantou special cooperation zone (SSCZ), we constructed a storm flooding model based on the SCS flow generation model and GIS to explore the spatial distribution characteristics of the flooding risk in a rainstorm of 100-year lasting 1 h. Combined with population and economic indicators, a radial basis function (RBF) network was utilized to evaluate the environmental risk, the vulnerability of disaster-bearing bodies, and the rain–flood resilience of sponge cities. The self-organizing feature mapping (SOFM) model was used for cluster analysis. Spatial differences were found in the construction suitability of the study area. A suitable construction area (73.59% of the entire area) was located downtown. The construction of the artificial spongy body in the highest vulnerable area (3.25%) needs to be strengthened. The control construction area (3.3%) is located along the banks of the river, with relatively high risk and low resilience of flood control engineering. Ecological construction (19.85%) serves as the sponge body of ecological buffer. The factors of waterlogging, ecology, population, and economy could be integrated comprehensively by applying neural network methods for urban planning and construction.

Strategic coupling in global production networks through international cooperation zones: the Thai–Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone

ABSTRACT This article unpacks the function of the international cooperation zone in promoting the strategic coupling of regional development in global production networks. Compared with ‘coupling through market’, the case of the Thai–Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone (TCRIZ) shows a formation path of ‘coupling through territorial intermediary’ with the international cooperation zone acting as an intermediary agent with the function of attracting investment and promoting firm connections between the regional economy and global production networks. The coupling through territorial intermediary is particularly important for regions with weak competitive dynamics to articulate to global production networks.

Theoretical Foundations Development of Space Adaptive Video Information Systems Synthesis

The main provisions and principles of the synthesis of adaptive video information systems designed for recording and analyzing images of dynamic scenes at the stages of long-range detection of artificial space objects, ballistic and controlled approach to them in the middle and near zone of cooperation are considered. Based on the principle of dominant information, it is shown that the basis for the development of methods and algorithms for processing video information in on-board surveillance systems is the joint adaptive processing of video information in photo-detector matrices and in digital processors in order to maximize the quality of information issued to the consumer by suppressing background and noise information by adaptive hysteresis control of the frame frequency, frame resolution and signal accumulation time in the photodetector matrix, as well as the use of parametric neural network detectors-classifiers.

Variegated transnational partnerships: Multi-scalar actor networks in China’s overseas industrial parks

The development of overseas industrial parks is a key component of the Belt and Road Initiative and a practical way of promoting inclusive globalization by introducing new forms of cooperation between China and the host countries. In this paper, the Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone (TCRIZ), and the China-Indonesia Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (KITIC) are discussed in the context of the evolving development strategies and trajectories through three interrelated conceptual lenses — policy mobility, actor networks, and partnerships. The actor-network theory provides a lens to analyze how policy mobility and partnerships develop for two industrial zone case studies. The development, which involves a multi-scalar process, is shaped by the interactions among the national states, the regional governments and corporations against a background of globalization. Three types of transnational actor partnership networks have been identified, namely, hierarchical partnership, spontaneous partnership, and hybrid partnership. A highlight of the study is the role that the partnerships play in the process of policy mobility when it comes to the overseas industrial zones. It is argued that the partnerships are the key to achieving technology transfer on a cross-national basis, and the effectiveness of the technology transfer is dependent on partner selection and the roles of the actors in policy mobility.

Identifying the scope of the Lhasa Metropolitan Area based on a spatial field energy model

The cultivation and development of modern metropolitan areas with the aim of establishing new regional centers with competitive edge is a key objective for the new-type urbanization directions in China. The construction of the Lhasa Metropolitan Area is of great significance for the promotion of the South Asia Channel, the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative, the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, the Himalaya Economic Cooperation Zone, and for rapid development and long-term stability of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This paper examines the scope of the Lhasa Metropolitan Area including Chengguanqu (Chengguan District), Doilungdeqen, Dagze, Lhunzhub, Damxung, Nyemo, Quxu, Maizhokunggar, Samzhubze Qu (Samzhubze District), Gyangze, Rinbung, Bainang, Nedong, Gonggar, and Zhanang using a spatial field energy model that combines nodality and accessibility indices and considers multiple indicators including traffic flow between cities. By combining factors such as the natural background, population agglomeration, the social economy, infrastructure construction, and the urban spatial structure of the Lhasa Metropolitan Area, it is proposed to build a bow-and-arrow-shaped urban system with ‘one core, two centers, one axis, and two wings’ along the valleys and the transportation trunk lines of the area. The study advocates the construction of a pure land industrial system comprising a green cultural and tourism-oriented plateau.

ПРОБЛЕМА ОПУСТЫНИВАНИЯ В БИОСФЕРНОМ РЕЗЕРВАТЕ ЮНЕСКО «КИЗЛЯРСКИЙ ЗАЛИВ»

Unfavorable hydrothermal conditions and excessive pasture loads in the European South of Russia led to dust storms in September and October 2020 and in May and June 2021. As a result, the area of desertification in the Republic of Dagestan, the Republic of Kalmykia, Astrakhan Oblast and Stavropol Krai has increased several times. The UNESCO biosphere reserve ‘Kizlyar Bay’ is located in the north of Dagestan. Economic activities, including grazing, are allowed in its cooperation zone. Overgrazing led to a 15% (about 90 km2) increase in the area of land without vegetation in 2021 as compared to 2019. It is necessary to take urgent measures aimed at regulating livestock population, controlling compliance with the grazing regime of distant-pasture cattle breeding, carrying outvegetative reclamation, and organizing a monitoring system to prevent further pasture degradation in the cooperation zone of the reserve.

HISTORY AND CURRENT STATE OF THE BIOSPHERE SPECIALLY PROTECTED NATURAL TERRITORIES OF TAIMYR

In 1995, the State Reserve "Taimyrsky" was awarded the status of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It was during this period, that the global concept of the tasks and functions of biosphere reserves as such changed. Initially, biosphere reserves were created as territories for background monitoring of undisturbed natural complexes. With the adoption of the Seville Strategy in 1995, along with this function, the task of promoting sustainable social-economic development of regions and local communities was adopted, but at the same time preserving and deepening the scientific work of the reserve - monitoring natural environment of the reserve core and adjacent areas. A zone of cooperation of the reserve was declared, including areas of compact residence and nature use of indigenous people - Dolgan and Nganasan. After the unification of all 5 federal protected areas of Taimyr in 2013 into the management of a single Unified Directorate, the implementation of the functions of the biosphere reserve, especially scientific works, for the Taimyr Reserve has become significantly more complicated. Currently, one of the main tasks is to monitor and manage the Taimyr population of wild reindeer - the basis of the traditional nature management of Taimyr people, along with domestic reindeer husbandry, fishing and fur trade. The satellite tracking program conducted since 2018 and the resumption of accounting works have made it possible to identify the unfavorable state of this population and outline measures for its protection and restoration.

Understanding Russia's security priorities in the Arctic: why Canada-Russia cooperation is still possible

ABSTRACT Heightened tensions in Russia-West relations have signaled that the Arctic is no longer exempt from the tumult of geopolitics; however, an unrestrained militarization of the Arctic in response to the perception of a hostile Russia may be a hasty move. For the Arctic to remain a zone of cooperation, this will require a proper understanding of Russia's general foreign policy interests, how the Arctic fits into these goals, and the recognition that Russia is a major Arctic power and can therefore be expected to pursue its interests there. This paper presents a brief empirical overview of Russia's power interests as they relate to the Arctic, and tackles some of the assumptions about Russia that obstruct its consideration as a cooperative Arctic partner, notably the current narrative of Russia as willful disruptor of the global order. This paper attempts to clarify just what Russia's interests are and how these might relate to its defence and security initiatives in the Arctic. Cooperation between Canada and Russia in the Arctic will require a better appreciation of just what Russia's interests in the Arctic actually are, rather than presuming motives that imperil cooperation and risk raising the stakes of doing business in the region.

The “Frontier” According to Paul de La Pradelle

Essential author on the “frontier”, Paul de Geouffre de La Pradelle is known for his original legal theory. The author distinguishes between “delimitation” (which is a boundary-line) and “frontier” (which is a zone of cooperation). He also distinguishes what he calls the “national frontier” (“object of study of domestic public law”) and the “international frontier” (“object of study of international public and private law”).

‘Despite the special bonds that tie us’: Portugal, Brazil, and the South Atlantic in the late Cold War

ABSTRACT As the Cold War entered the mid-1980s, concerns over the Brazilian nuclear programme lingered on through the global stage. In this context, Brazil’s 1986 proposal for a Zone of Peace and Cooperation in the South Atlantic (ZOPACAS) emerged as an opportunity to recast the country’s external profile; yet, unexpected reservations emerged from the unlikeliest of its partners, Portugal. This article argues that while Portugal’s initial positioning was fuelled by broader Western concerns, including misperceptions over Brazil’s nuclear ambitions, the official predisposition towards such a project eventually shifted, following changes in Portugal, the region, and the world.

Evaluation Research on Planning Implementation of Chinese Overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones along the Belt and Road: Evidence from Longjiang Industrial Park, Vietnam

Chinese Overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones (COCZs) under the “One Belt and One Road” initiative are committed to promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, becoming an important platform for the countries and regions where they are located to achieve the sustainable development goals of the 2030 agenda. The planning of COCZs plays a strategic leading and rigid control role in the sustainable development of parks, and the planning implementation effectiveness evaluation has been a key to the sustainable development of COCZs. From the perspective of sustainable development, we established a rating system depending on the deconstruction “effectiveness = efficiency + effect + benefit + capacity” to measure the planning implementation effectiveness evaluation indexes of COCZs, and conducted empirical research based on the evidence of Longjiang Industrial Park, Vietnam. The research results show that Longjiang Industrial Park has a good planning implementation effectiveness with remarkable comprehensive economic, social, ecological and political benefits. It features a good efficiency, effect and benefit from an excellent production capacity, reflected in the consistency between spatial planning and implementation results and a high satisfaction with planning implementation. However, planning implementation is also faced with problems such as the lag of time, imbalance between profit and loss, uneven achievement of goals, and lack of a refined planning control system. To make COCZs more sustainable in development and planning, the suggestion is, on the one hand, to accelerate the establishment of a regular and institutionalized mechanism for the planning preparation and implementation evaluation of COCZs, and bring sustainable development into the management requirements, and, on the other hand, to promote the transformation of COCZs planning from “Function and Scale Orientation” to “Quality and Effectiveness Orientation”, and guide the creation of a model for sustainable development and the planning of COCZs.