PF Internasjonal Politikk og Økonomi
Common Security Concerns of Norway and China
01. mars 2010 10:00 - 12:00 - Håndverkeren

10.00 - 10.15 - Opening remarks by Gry Larsen, State Secretary, Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

10.15 - 11.15 - Presentations by Bates Gill and Linda Jakobson

11.15 - 12.00 - Q&A session, moderated by Stein Tønnesson, PRIO

The prospect of the Arctic being navigable during summer months as a result of climate change has impelled the Chinese Government to allocate more resources to Arctic research. Several Chinese academics have encouraged their government to be aware of the political, economic and military implications of shorter shipping routes and untapped energy resources. However, Chinese officials advocate cautious Arctic policies for fear of causing alarm and provoking countermeasures among the Arctic states.

This seminar will look at whether or not there is room for intensifying Norway’s cooperation with China in the field of security, both narrowly and widely defined.

Presentations will address China’s expanding role in UN peacekeeping operations, China’s evolving approach to the High North, China’s views on nuclear disarmament and arms control, China’s role in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and China-Russia relations. Finally, a new SIPRI Insights Paper “China and the High North prepare for an ice-free Arctic” by Linda Jakobson will be released. The research for this report was funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Gry Larsen is State Secretary in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in charge of foreign and security policy issues ranging from human rights to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Her portfolio also covers NATO, Afghanistan/Pakistan as well as Africa.

Dr Bates Gill is Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). He is a renowned international expert on Chinese security policy and the author of Rising Star: China’s New Security Diplomacy (Brookings Press, 2007). Together with Chin-hao Huang, Dr Gill recently published a SIPRI report on China’s growing role in peacekeeping:
http://www.sipri.org/media/press_event/beijingnov03.

Linda Jakobson is Acting Programme Director and Beijing-based Senior Researcher of the SIPRI Programme on China and Global Security. She has published six books about Chinese politics and foreign policy during the 17 years she has lived and worked in China. Jakobson’s research at SIPRI focuses on China’s foreign and security policy and regional security issues in Northeast Asia.

Hard copies of Linda Jakobson’s report will be available at the event. The report will also be posted at www.sipri.org from 11.00am that Monday.