East Asia Forum

East Asia Forum

The NDB and BRICS in global governance reform

President Xi at BRICS Business Forum, Beijing, China, 22 June 2022 (Photo: Reuters/China Out).

Author: Silvia Menegazzi, LUISS On 7 December 2022, Egypt ratified its participation in the New Development Bank (NDB) — a multilateral development bank (MDB) established in 2015 under the direct guidance of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS).…

China’s unprepared reopening

A man gets a swab tests at a temporary testing station as outbreaks of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue in Beijing, China, 14 November 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Thomas Peter).

Authors: Siyu Qian, China and Li Mingjiang, RSIS China has had a rollercoaster experience in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic after the relaxation of the COVID-zero policy. While the situation now has gradually returned to normal, the first few weeks…

A glimmer of hope for North Korea in 2023

Residential houses and farmlands are seen on the banks of Yalu River in North Korean city of Manpo, Chagang province, 16 August 2014 (Photo: Reuters/Jacky Chen).

Author: Jamie Reilly, University of Sydney For the people of North Korea, 2022 was another difficult year. But as 2023 dawns, glimmers of hope are emerging as the country’s foreign trade with China and Russia begins to resume. Food security…

EU–China relations disintegrating on autopilot

Charles Michel, President of the European Council, meets Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China, on 1 Dec 2022 (Photo: Reuters).

Author: Andrei Lungu, RISAP In early December 2022, President of the European Council Charles Michel travelled to Beijing for his first face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit came after two events that epitomise the state of EU–China…