[Book Talk] Building the Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab World – China’s Middle East Math

Join us for a special Book Talk with Professor Jonathan Fulton on his latest publication, Building the Belt and Road Initiative in the Arab World: China’s Middle East Math. Drawing on the 1+2+3 Cooperation Pattern introduced by President Xi Jinping in 2014, the book offers a compelling framework to understand China’s political economy strategy in the region, centred on energy cooperation, infrastructure development, and emerging sectors like nuclear and space technologies. In this session, Prof. Fulton will discuss how different Arab states, and sub-regions have positioned themselves within this evolving equation, and what these reveals about Beijing’s strategic priorities. The talk will provide timely insights for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in the intersection of Chinese foreign policy and Middle East regional dynamics.