As the summer comes to an end and September approaches, we are excited to share our latest publications and upcoming activities with you in the August edition of our EIAS newsletter.
In December 2021, after five years of construction work, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) inaugurated its first major high–speed railway line. A feat of technology in a landlocked, mountainous country, the Laos-China railway links the capital Vientiane to the Chinese border in less than three hours. A year and a half later, in April 2022, the section was extended by almost 1,000 km to connect the Laotian capital with Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province in southern China. Designed to open up the country economically to its partners in Southeast Asia, this railway line is shaping the future of Laos as a country at the confluence of many regional and international influences.
China’s industrial policies are reshaping global trade dynamics, prompting the European Union (EU) to reassess its approach towards risk mitigation. As China strengthens its domestic supply market, particularly in high-tech and renewable energy sectors, EU policymakers are progressively facing pressure to decrease their reliance on China in sectors like critical minerals, magnesium and lithium. Amidst rising geopolitical tension and increasingly proactive action towards addressing the climate crisis, industrial policies have moved to the forefront and have gained traction worldwide, exerting significant influence on the international market. As a consequence, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the concept of ‘de-risking’, which has emerged as a major term among policymakers. The approach underscores the imperative for enhanced understanding, communication and common agreement between China and the EU to foster fair competition globally.
As July winds down and summer continues to spark our curiosity, we are excited to present you an extended summer edition of our newsletter.
As global leaders are to assemble in Baku, Azerbaijan for the 29th gathering of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) from 11 to 24 November 2024, the occasion may prove to be pivotal on several fronts. The COP29 summit, like its predecessors, will assess global carbon emissions and international efforts to combat climate change. It will also be a milestone for Azerbaijan to lead discussions toward effective climate solutions and to withstand the scrutiny often faced by host countries with significant energy production.
The Caspian Sea is gaining increasing centrality in new trade routes between Asia and Europe playing a fundamental role in promoting economic connectivity between the two regions. The conflict in Ukraine and the rising tensions in the Middle East and Red Sea have highlighted the vulnerability of current supply chains for essential commodities. Consequently, it has underscored the potential significance of the Caspian Sea and its surrounding states — especially Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan — whose energy reserves and potentials could help the EU diversify away from reliance on the Russian energy sector. Additionally, these countries are expected to play a crucial role in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the ‘Middle Corridor.’
On 31 May 2024 EIAS hosted a Visiting Delegation of the Standing Committee on Energy of the House of Representatives of Thailand, during a roundtable meeting. The Thai Delegation was visiting Belgium and France to attend meetings with policy makers, experts and other relevant stakeholders working in the field of energy.
In the bustling cities of Lahore, New Delhi, and Dhaka, a common threat looms large, blurring the borders that separate these cities. Air pollution, a relentless adversary, knows no boundaries, permeating the skies and lungs of millions across the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Relations between the EU, especially France, and Cambodia have been more strained in recent years due to the EU’s criticism of Cambodia’s human rights and democratic environment. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s visit to France on 18-19 January 2024 represented a turning point in the bilateral relations between the two nations.