Exploring the New Dynamics of the ‘Global South’: How are Developing Countries Proactively Interacting with China?

The international community is currently at the crossroads on how to create a world order under the compound crises including post-pandemic, climate change, and the situations in Ukraine and Palestine. In addition, with the growing presence of the "Global South," how will the existing great power-led international order be transformed in the future? Seeking to establish itself as a new superpower, China has strengthened its relations with developing countries in the Indo-Pacific region through political, economic, cultural, and other channels. China’s infrastructure development projects under its "One Belt, One Road" initiative often take different approaches from those of the Western countries and Japan, and have drawn criticism for their lack of consideration for environmental and human rights issues, and for burdening recipient countries with excessive debts. It has also been said that project recipients are mostly smaller states, making it difficult for them to take the initiative in negotiations with China.

The JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development (JICA Ogata Research Institute) has questioned such a big-power-centered explanation, and has conducted research to redefine bilateral relations with China from the perspective of smaller states. In this symposium, we will present the results of the research project with case studies of the Philippines, Laos, Bangladesh, and Serbia to examine how these countries are taking ownership of building bilateral relations with China to ensure their own political and economic interests.

We will discuss the new dynamics revealed by our research with you.

We look forward to your participation.

14:00-14:05 Opening remarks
—Yoichi Mine, Executive Director, JICA Ogata Research Institute

14:05-14:15 Introduction of the research project "The New Dynamics of Peace and Development in the Indo-Pacific: How Countries in the Region Proactively Interact with China" 　　
—Akio Takahara, Senior Research Advisor, JICA Ogata Research Institute / Professor, The University of Tokyo

14:15-15:10 Case Study Report
—Alvin Camba, Assistant Professor, University of Denver (Case Study: Philippines)
—Cheng-Chwee Kuik, Professor, National University of Malaysia (Case Study: Laos)
—Lailufar Yasmin, Professor, University of Dhaka (case study: Bangladesh)
—Dragana Mitrovic, Professor, University of Belgrade (case study: Serbia)

15:10-15:55 Plenary Discussion and Q&A
Discussant: Hiroaki Shiga, Visiting Researcher, JICA Ogata Research Institute / Professor, Yokohama National University
Moderator: Naohiro Kitano, Visiting Researcher, JICA Ogata Research Institute / Professor, Waseda University

16:00 Closing

JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development（Ms. Imai）
E-mail：dritrp@jica.go.jp

Please register (choose on-site or online) from the link below.

* Registration will be closed at 12:00 March 4 (Japan time).
* If the number of on-site participants reaches the maximum number, we will invite you to participate online. We appreciate your understanding in advance.

Note: Recorded video may be made available later.