4:10-5:40 pm (JST), 10:10-11:40 am (AST) 31st May 2021
A clear shift in the global economic relations has been taking place over the last decade, challenging the prevailing global order. A new geo-economic space is materializing with the phenomenal rise of the Asia-Pacific and Gulf regions, which will be one of the main hallmarks of this century, heralding a fundamental structural change in the international system, signalling the beginning of yet another so-called New World Order, and re-orienting the contours of Gulf–Asia relations. In what has been dubbed the ‘Asian Century’, the Gulf states began to re-orient their strategies with a “Look East” or “pivot to Asia” policy while Asian countries have adopted a “Look West” policy.
Hence Gulf-Asia relations are becoming increasingly bi-directional, multi-faceted, and firmly rooted. During the past two decades, an intricate web of diplomatic and economic ties and military-to-military contacts has developed between the Gulf and Asia-Pacific countries. There is every indication that Gulf-Asia relations are a structural feature of the global system whose importance to partners and to others with interests in these regions will only increase.
The webinar will discuss, analyse and dissect Gulf-Asia relations and will try to answer the questions of: Whether this global economic shift will continue and so lead to political and security re-alignment? How will the combination of current crises like the global pandemic (Covid-19), the fall in oil prices and the global economic downturn affect the trajectory of Gulf-Asia relations? What will be the implications of US–China competition as a new “cold war” and what is the future outlook for Gulf–Asia relations?
Please join us for this online public talk on “Gulf-Asia Relations within the Changing Global Order” organised by the Chair of the State of Qatar in Islamic Area Studies at Waseda University in collaboration with Qatar University on 31st May 2021 (from 10:10-11: 40 am Qatar time, 4:10-5:40 pm Japan time). All are welcome to participate.
Welcome
Abdullah Baabood
Chair of the State of Qatar in Islamic Area Studies and Visiting Professor, Waseda University
Opening of the Academic Sessions and Introduction of Speakers
Mahjoob Zweiri
Professor, Qatar University
Gulf-Asia Relations
Anoush Ehteshami
Professor, Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah Chair in International Relations in the School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University
Japan-Gulf Relations
Masakazu Toyoda
Chairman and CEO, Institute of Energy Economics
China-Gulf Relations
Bingbing Wu
The State of Qatar Chair in Middle Eastern Studies and Deputy Director, Institute of Arab–Islamic Culture, Peking University
Korea-Gulf Relations
Kangsuk Kim
Researcher, GCC Institute of Dankook University
India-Gulf Relations
Talmiz Ahmad
Ram Sathe Chair for International Studies, Symbiosis International University
Former Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE
Discussions, Q&A, Conclusion and Group Photo
Matthew Gray
Professor, Waseda University
WebEx Event Link:
Using Laptop / Desktop: https://qu-edu.webex.com/qu-edu/j.php?MTID=e24d3a2189cf65b835d59f21c82e9aa0d
Enter First name, Last name, Email Address and click ‘Join Now’
Using Smart Devices: Event ID: 1210 11 2335 | Password: global
Moderators
Mahjoob Zweiri
Professor, Qatar University
Dr Mahjoob Zweiri is a Professor in Gulf Studies and Iran, and the Director of Gulf Studies center at Qatar University.
Matthew Gray
Professor, Waseda University
Matthew Gray is a professor at the School of International Liberal Studies, Waseda University, Tokyo, and over 2005-2016 was at The Australian National University, Canberra. He has also been a visiting scholar at Durham University and the University of Tokyo. He is the author of four books: Conspiracy Theories in the Arab World: Sources and politics (Routledge, 2010); Qatar: Politics and the Challenges of Development (Lynne Rienner, 2013); Global Security Watch Saudi Arabia (Praeger, 2014); and most recently, The Economy of the Gulf States (Agenda, 2019).
Panelists
Anoush Ehteshami
Professor, Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah Chair in International Relations in the School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University
Prof Anoush Ehteshami is Professor of International Relations and Director of the HH Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah Research Programme at Durham University, UK. His is the author of, with Niv Horesh, How China’s Rise is Changing the Middle East (Routledge, 2020).
Masakazu Toyoda
Chairman and CEO, Institute of Energy Economics
Masakazu Toyoda has been Chairman and CEO since 2010 at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) which has been ranked among Top-3 energy and resource policy think tanks for seven consecutive years, in Global Go To Think Tank Index Reports by University of Pennsylvania.In addition, as a member of Strategic Policy Committee of Agency for Natural Resources and Energy of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, he contributed compiling the Fifth Strategic Energy Plan which was approved by the Cabinet in July 2018.Making good use of these experiences, he lectures about Energy Study as an Adjunctive Professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo.He also serves as an international advisor to a number of institutions such as the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, and the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research Center.Prior to joining the IEEJ, he served at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan where he held prominent positions namely Vice-Minister for International Affairs.
Bingbing Wu
The State of Qatar Chair in Middle Eastern Studies and Deputy Director, Institute of Arab–Islamic Culture, Peking University
WU Bingbing is The State of Qatar Chair in Middle Eastern Studies at Peking University and deputy director of Department of Arabic Language and Culture, Peking University, and director of Institute of Arab-Islamic Culture, Peking University.
Kangsuk Kim
Researcher, GCC Institute of Dankook University
Kangsuk Kim is a researcher in the GCC Institute of Dankook University and an adjunct professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, South Korea. He is currently a columnist for Middle East politics at a Korean-language daily newspaper, the Hankook Ilbo. His main research interests are international relations of the Middle East and South Korea-Middle East relations. His scholarly articles include “South Korea’s Abortive Search for Autonomy: Explaining Park Chung-hee`s Rapprochement with the PLO,” The Korean Journal of Defense Analysis (June 2017, with Wookhee Shin).
Talmiz Ahmad
Ram Sathe Chair for International Studies, Symbiosis International University and Former Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE
Talmiz Ahmad is Ram Sathe Chair Professor for International Studies, Symbiosis International University, Pune, India and Former Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE.
