Stockholm - China's growing global role in economics, security and foreign policy will be studied under the auspices of a new research programme launched Friday. The programme will focus on "China and global security," director Bates Gill of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said.
Gill, a US national and specialist on China, recently co-authored a study on China's contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations.
The new research programme includes senior SIPRI researcher Linda Jakobson who will be based full-time in Beijing.
Jakobson took part in a panel debate with Professor Jia Qingguo of the School of International Studies at Beijing University, and discussed China's foreign policy in North Korea, Iran and Africa.
Two other researchers - Professor Robert Ross of Boston College and Professor Jin Canrong of the School of International Relations at Renmin University - earlier discussed forces influencing China's foreign policy.
The Swedish parliament created SIPRI as an independent foundation in 1966.
SIPRI has for decades tracked global arms spending and publishes regular reports on its findings.
