New era with new opportunities: the perspectives of china and the gulf cooperation council economic and energy relations

Aram Abajyan

Aram Abajyan The Institute of Oriental Studies NAS RA

Keywords: China, GCC, economy, energy, cooperation

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to analyze the origins, historical background, development plans and the future between GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) unit and rising China. Investigating various aspects of economic, as well as energy cooperation between the sides help us comprehend present situation and also predict the possible perspectives among them.
The GCC’s economic advantageous status in world affairs with its significant global shifts is attractive to major powers. Especially its cooperation with principal economic partner China, tends to enter new and more promising level in the field of international relations.
Although China-GCC relations are developing in multilevel perspectives, oil sector is going to remain the most significant ‘driving force’ shaping these ties at least in foreseeable future: Beijing’s growing energy demands will stimulate the process. On the other hand, ensuring world major power’s huge energy needs can help GCC unit make its transition processes from regional to global international arena more rapidly and softly.

Author Biography

Aram Abajyan, The Institute of Oriental Studies NAS RA

Aram Abajyan, PhD,

Research Fellow at the Department of International Relations at the Institute of Oriental Studies, NAS RA. Main fields of his research include China-Middle East relations, international developments and perspectives.