2021 - Korea & Iron Silk Road
The conference "Korea, the Iron Silk Road and the Belt and Road Initiative - soft power and hard power approaches" discussed an urgent, indeed pressing topic: how can middle powers like South Korea and Germany benefit from closer economic and political linkages across the Eurasian landmass, in particular the Belt and Road Initiative dominated by China. Should they rather jump on the bandwagon or should they follow distinct own initiatives, either in their region or inter-regionally? Here are the presentations:
This conference was supported by the 2020 Korean Studies Grant Programme of the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS-2020-C19).
Part I: Geopolitics of the Belt and Road Initiative
“Korea and Germany – end points of the Iron Silk Road and Opportunities for Cooperation”
Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Hans-Ulrich Seidt, Berlin
"Belt and Road in the new geo-political competition: China, the US, Europe and Korea”
Duyeon Kim, Center for a New American Security, Washington D.C.
“Road and Belt, Iron Silk Road and Russian-Chinese geopolitical cooperation and competition"
Prof. Dr. Artyom Lukin, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia
“China's Belt and Road Initiative: What It Means to India and India's Rise in Asia?”
Dr. Jagannath P. Panda, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, India
Part II: Both Koreas and the Belt and Road Initiative
“Kim Jong-un’s Byungjin Policy - Support or Obstacle for Economic Convergence on the Korean Peninsula?"
Prof. Dr. Dr. Ralph Wrobel, University of Applied Sciences Zwickau
“The Iron Silk Road and North Korea – is there any chance to move forward?”
Dr. Bernhard Seliger, Hanns-Seidel-Foundation Korea
“South Korea, China and the Road and Belt initiative – economic and political factors”
Prof. Dr. Ananstasia Barannikova, Center for Maritime International Studies, Maritime State University, Vladivostok, Russia
Part III: Western Destinations of the Belt and Road Initiative
“Duisburg and its port, end point of China's new silk road - opportunities and risks”
Prof. Dr. Werner Pascha, Institute of East Asian Studies, University Duisburg/ Essen
“China in Africa: Competitor of the EU?”
Prof. Dr. Joachim Ahrens, Private University of Applied Sciences Göttingen & Dr. Katja Kalkschmied, University of Graz, Austria
Part IV: Soft Power Approaches of the Belt and Road Initiative
“The European Union, Korea and China – geopolitical aspects and the Belt and Road Initiative”
Dr. Tereza Novotna, FU Berlin
“The prospects of cultural exchange to foster the economic relationship between the EU and Korea"
Prof. Dr. Go Joo-Hyun, Yonsei University, Seoul
"Trade Effects on Happiness in Asia"
Alexander Hess, M.A., University of Applied Sciences Zwickau / Dr. Christoph Michael Hindermann, University of Erfurt