War and Peace in the 21st Century. Peace and prosperity in East Asia: A regional challenge of global concern

Sean Golden, member of the Inter-Asia research group, took part in the annual invitation only seminar organised by the CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs) think tanks in collaboration with the city government of Barcelona on 18 January 2014, under the heading War and Peace in the 21st Century. Peace and prosperity in East Asia: A regional challenge of global concern.

Javier Solana, Honorary Chairman of CIDOB and Former EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and Carles Gasòliba, Chairman of the Board of CIDOB, presided over the seminar.

The Topics

Regional Economic Integration in East Asia 
Implications of a simultaneous economic emergency in all East Asian economies. Is there a common East Asian agenda on economic issues? How can economic cooperation be strengthened? Can economic cooperation contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region? To what extent have political differences led to slow progress in regional economic cooperation? Is the East Asian regional integration centered on China? How is regional integration affecting importers, exporters and investors in the region? Lessons to be learned from the economic problems in Europe for future in-depth integration in East Asia.

Seeking a New Security Framework for East Asia
Which are the main threats for a ‘grand bargain’ on security in East Asia? Can the rising of nationalism in Asia threaten stability in the region? Are both major regional powers and weaker countries more comfortable with a new order in the region based on China’s primacy instead of US influence? What are the most appropriate multilateral forums to solve disputes among major powers? To what extent does North Korea's Nuclear Program threat regional stability? China and the US’ global competition: implications for East Asia and potential strategic allies. Is there a role for the EU in building a more peaceful East Asia?

The speakers for the first topic were Kumiharu Shigehara, President of the International Economy Policy Studies Association and Former Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD, and Françoise Lemoine, Senior Economist in CEPII and Associate Researcher, Centre d'Études sur la Chine contemporaine. The session was chaired by Miquel Nadal, Economist and Former Secretary of State for International Affairs.

The speakers for the second topic were Xiang Lanxin , Professor of International History and Politics, The Graduate Institute (Geneva); Takashi Inoguchi, Emeritus Professor at the University of Tokyo and former Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations; and Ron Huisken, Senior Fellow, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University. Javier Solana chaired the second session and Jordi Bacaria, Director of the CIDOB, prepared the conclusions.