Research On The Problems And Countermeasures Of The Blue Partnership Between China And Europe

On June 5,2017,China formally put forward the "Blue Partnership" initiative at the first UN ocean Conference.The EU is a positive responder to China's "Blue Partnership" initiative and the first regional organization to formally sign an intergovernmental document on the establishment of the Blue Partnership with China.Therefore,it is of great significance to study the problems and solutions of China-EU Blue Partnership in detail for deepening China-EU maritime cooperation in the future and providing experience for China to build Blue Partnership with more countries and regional organizations in the future.This paper first explores the theoretical basis of the "Blue Partnership" initiative.After summing up that Western sea power theory and Chinese traditional ocean view are difficult to explain the behavior of China-EU Blue Partnership,this paper attempts to use International Political Relation Theory,International Symbiosis Theory and Interconnection Theory as the theoretical basis to explain the Blue Partnership.It is concluded that the "new ocean view" in the Blue Partnership is the key factor for China and the EU to quickly reach a consensus on maritime cooperation.Looking back on the course of China-EU maritime exchanges,there are exchanges along the ancient Silk Road and gunboat diplomacy full of oppression and inequality.However,in recent years,win-win cooperation and mutual benefit have gradually become the main theme of China-EU maritime interaction.The signing of China-EU Blue Partnership in 2018 marks a milestone in the maritime cooperation between the two sides.Facing the future,China and the EU will promote maritime cooperation mainly from the four aspects of maritime security,blue economy,shipping routes and polar governance.However,the deepening of the Blue Partnership between China and Europe also faces many problems.The divergence between the EU's overall and partial maritime interests,the greater risks faced by Chinese state-owned enterprises in maritime investment in Europe,and the risks of maritime security cooperation between China and the EU caused by the issues of the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean,all pose great obstacles to the in-depth development of the blue partnership between China and Europe.In the face of these challenges,this paper proposes the following three suggestions: First,to implement the connectivity,the overall maritime cooperation plan of China-EU goes hand in hand with key subregional maritime cooperation projects;Second,In order to coordinate the relations between all parties,the "official" and "local" levels of China and the EU should participate together;Third,enhance sharing and build a community of maritime destiny between China and Europe.