China's International Investment Strategy ― Bilateral, Regional, and Global Law and Policy

Since China adopted its 'open door' policy in 1978, which altered its development strategy from self-sufficiency to active participation in the world market, its goal has remained unchanged: to assist the readjustment of China's economy, to coordinate its modernization programs, and to improve its quality of life. With the 1997 launch of the 'Going Global' policy, an outward focus regarding foreign investment was added, to circumvent trade barriers and improve the competitiveness of Chinese firms. In order to accommodate inward and outward investment, China's participation in the international investment regime has underpinned its efforts to join multilateral investment-related legal instruments and conclude international investment agreements.

This collection, compiled by award-winning scholar Professor Julien Chaisse, explores the three distinct tracks of China's investment policy and strategy: bilateral agreements including those with the US and the EU; regional agreements including the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific; and global initiatives, spear-headed by China's presidency of the G20 and its 'Belt and Road initiative'. The book's overarching topic is whether these three tracks compete with each other, or whether they complement one another - a question of profound importance for the country's political and economic future and world investment governance.

Julien Chaisse, Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

Julien Chaisse is Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Faculty of Law. He is an award-winning scholar of international law with a special focus on the regulation and development of economic globalization. His teaching and research include international trade/investment law, international taxation, and the law of natural resources. In recognition of his outstanding academic performance, Professor Chaisse received the CUHK Vice-Chancellor's Exemplary Teaching Award in 2015 and the CUHK Research Award in 2012. Professor Chaisse is the Director of the Centre for Financial Regulation and Economic Development at CUHK Law, and has established forward-looking legal projects at CUHK. Prior to joining CUHK in 2009, Professor Chaisse was a senior research fellow at the World Trade Institute (Switzerland). He also held an appointment as lecturer at elite school Sciences Po Aix (France) and served as a diplomat at the Embassy of France in New Delhi (India).