Issue 90: China’s Big Year in the Middle East
Welcome to Backstory, a weekly newsletter turning global technology shifts into a three-minute read. This week, we’re thinking about China’s relationship with the region – Mary Ames, Director of Strategy
THE BIG TAKE
China’s Big Year in the Middle East
After decades of quiet diplomacy and warm trade relations, the Chinese-Gulf relationship is set for a significant upgrade this year. Fresh from a tour of East Africa and the Gulf, China’s foriegn minister Wang Yi reportedly told his Emirait counterpart that Beijing wants to see the creation of a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as soon as possible. Such an upgrade would have profound implications for the regional knowledge economy this year and beyond.
A long relationship: China has enjoyed warm relations with the Gulf for decades, but they have been largely overshadowed by the dominant position of the United States in the region. Despite the geopolitical competition, China remains one of the largest consumers of Gulf oil in the world. Bilateral economic activity between China and the GCC bloc was over $180 billion in 2020 alone. A free trade agreement, which has long been discussed, elevates the relationship to an entirely new level with ample benefits for all parties.
All about infrastructure: The key to China’s geopolitical success continues to be infrastructure development. Whether expanding ports in Dubai or providing 5G infrastructure to Saudi Arabia, the Chinese have successfully exported infrastructure across the region and much of the world. What the Gulf needs to focus on now is bringing Chinese technology intelligence to regional centers like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This is vital for the growth of short and long-term knowledge economy plans. By all accounts, 2022 will be a watershed moment in the relationship and we will see the fruits of this partnership soon.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults.”
– Benjamin Franklin
OUR VIEWS THIS WEEK
Women in the 4IR: The Fourth Industrial Revolution. It’s here and it’s transforming the future of work. The coming transformation of labor could improve the position of women in the workplace. If we start a conversation about the role of gender in 4IR today, we can lay the groundwork for a more equitable future tomorrow. In this piece published by Xische, Mary Ames explores the issues at play. She argues that we must realize the invaluable perspectives women can bring to designing and regulating the future to explore the full potential of 4IR.
Everyone is looking: Facial recognition technology is controversial, and it will likely stay that way for quite some time. That doesn’t change the fact that the industry is booming and expanding, particularly in North America. So it’s about time to address the concerns about facial recognition and make the necessary changes. In this piece from the archives, we took a deep dive into the debate about this powerful technology.
SPOTTED ELSEWHERE
The rise of nuclear power: This is going to be a major year for energy. Renewables are on the rise because the cost of infrastructure is coming down. Expect more electric cars and solar/wind energy projects. While renewables are great for individuals, we are still searching for clean alternatives for countries. In a stimulating expose, Bloomberg argues that nuclear power could be the best way for nations to achieve climate goals. This is one area to keep a close eye on throughout 2022.
The written word: Longtime Backstory readers know that we love the allure of paper books. The digital world is incredible, but sometimes you need the tactile feel of paper between your fingers. In this fascinating piece, The Economist argues that our new remote work lifestyle is helping the written word and handwriting make a comeback. Have you received any handwritten letters in the last two years? Would you like to?