Kononenko M. The evolution of Chinese foreign policy strategy in Persian Gulf.

Ph.D. thesis is dedicated to a research of the evolution of Chinese foreign policy strategy in the Persian Gulf according to the announced status of a responsible global power, determining its characteristics, priorities, principles, goals, directions and means of implementation. Chinese relations with the Persian Gulf countries are examined at three levels: theoretical and conceptual (analysis of the ideological and theoretical basis of foreign policy in context of China's strategic culture); doctrinal (analysis of foreign strategies and doctrines as officially defined universal guidelines on foreign and military policy of China) and the practical-political - an analysis of political-strategic implementation course in Gulf region. It is established and empirically proved that Chinese foreign policy strategy in the Persian Gulf stands on the one hand as an important part of its global strategy, Middle Eastern direction of its policy, on the other one - as an independent line of its foreign policy, endowed with its own characteristics, motivational factors and practical means for implementation. It was outlined a system of Chinese geopolitical and geo-economic interests in the Region whereby main principles, objectives and means of their implementation were identified. Forms and methods of PRC foreign policy tools implementation in the Gulf region were structured according to their characteristics, priorities, principles, goals, directions and means of implementation. Features and stages of multilateral cooperation system within a strategic dialogue China-GCC were outlined and the efficiency of multi-level bilateral and multilateral cooperation between China and countries of Persian Gulf was assessed. Based on analysis of multi-level bilateral and multilateral cooperation it was defined the main instrument of Chinese policy implementation in the Persian Gulf. It was proven a crucial role of multilateral cooperation within the GCC, determined its stages and directions, and completed conclusions about its effectiveness. It was proved that China's cooperation with the GCC and bilateral cooperation with the Gulf States complement and promote each other.