Reflecting on the recent joint naval exercises between Iran and China, Michal Meidan explores how the strategic relationship between the two nations involves more than just oil and discusses how US-led sanctions against Iran continue to complicate geopolitics.

Shao analyzes the US’ “New Silk Road Initiative” and China’s “Silk Road Economic Belt,”and concludes that though having differences, they go in the same direction: acceleration of regional economic cooperation.

Following the first year of the new Chinese leadership’s time in power, Zhai Kun examines why tensions in the Asia-Pacific continue to increase and what can be done to promote regional stability and development without endangering the current US-China relationship.

To debunk the “String of Pearls” theory, Zhou Bo writes that China has only two purposes in the Indian Ocean: economic gains and the security of Sea lines of Communication.

Xi-Li diplomacy worked well in 2013, writes Zhai Kun. A successful 2014 will rely more on the coordination of its twin engines of development and security promotion.

All eyes are on the Central Committee’s Third Plenum scheduled to open in Beijing on November 9 for details about China’s economic reforms. As attention focuses on domestic economic development, however, Chinese foreign policy also deserves notice.

There is inevitable concern that the Chinese Silk Road plan will not be compatible with the US one, and there will be increasing competition between China and the US in Central Asia, writes Su Xiaohui.