Washington cited Indonesia’s QRIS payment system as a non-tariff barrier during recent tariff negotiations, despite the system having become a key instrument of Indonesia’s soft diplomacy across Asia. With the right strategy, Indonesia could also promote its system in the EU. Key takeaways: QRIS is an Indonesian digital payment innovation that has been criticized by… Continue reading Could Indonesia introduce QRIS to Europe?
As China’s presence in the South Caucasus grows, marked by Strategic Partnership Agreements with Georgia and Azerbaijan, Armenia remains the only country in the region not to have entered into a similar arrangement with Beijing. Nonetheless, recent developments suggest that progress has been made in economic and political relations between the Republic of Armenia (RA) and the People’s Republic… Continue reading Armenia: China’s increasing presence in schools and academia
In recent years, European member states have begun to view China as a multifaceted actor. Italy is no exception. Current debates on economic security have prompted Rome to adjust its policy instruments to protect its strategic assets. Italy was one of the first European countries to sign an academic cooperation agreement with China. The number of agreements steadily increased over time and… Continue reading Italy: Transparency gap and collaborations under scrutiny
Slovenia’s higher education and research system comprises public and private institutions. Slovenia has four public universities: the University of Ljubljana, the University of Maribor, the University of Primorska, and the University of Nova Gorica. Additionally, Slovenia has several public research institutes, the most notable being the Jožef Stefan Institute and the National Institute of Chemistry,… Continue reading Slovenia: Leaning towards a gradual and selective academic cooperation with China
Between 2010 and 2020, Greece experienced a deep fiscal crisis that placed considerable strain on its economic and political relationship with the EU. In contrast, during the same period, relations between Athens and Beijing grew significantly closer, with partnerships emerging across multiple sectors and expanding in scope and depth. A hallmark of this burgeoning relationship… Continue reading Greece: The overlooked risks of academic cooperation with China
