A conference on international relations — “Resource Diplomacy under Hegemony”, jointly organized by the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of the University of Macau (UM), the Center on Environment, Energy and Resource Policy (CEERP) of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), will be held in Hong Kong and Macao between 20 January and 22 January 2011. The Macao session will be held at UM’s Ho Yin Convention Centre between 21 January and 22 January.

The conference seeks to understand how China’s resource diplomacy, e.g., its overseas purchases of energy and resources, affects the international system, and how that acquisition of resources, within the current global context, affects the relationship between the US and China. In terms of military and strategic power, multi-national corporations, political influence and soft power, we see a world which is dominated by the US. Yet China is clearly increasing its strengths in all these realms, making its rise and resource diplomacy of direct consequence to America’s national interest and its global responsibilities.

The conference will be divided into two sessions and will be conducted in English. The first session will be held at HKUST with a range of topics including “Resource Diplomacy under Hegemony: A Conceptual Framework”, “US and Its Allies” and “America’s Neutrals”. The Macao session will be held at HG01 Lecture Theatre, Ho Yin Convention Centre, UM, at 15:00-18:30 on 21 January and at 08:20-12:30 on 22 January. The main topics of discussion are “Beijing’s Economic Statecraft and Resources Diplomacy in the Making”, “America’s ‘Pariahs’ and China’s Energy Supply” and “Forces Ameliorating the Conflict”. Renowned scholars in the field of international relations especially in resource diplomacy are invited.

This conference will not only promote communication on international relations in the academic circle especially the theory of resource diplomacy, but also will further the research on international relations of UM.