Energy trade and economic integration between the commonwealth independent states and China

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to conduct the traditional economic, political, and geopolitical factors to uncover the relationship between different factors and the volume of China's energy importing from the Commonwealth of Independent States. We conducted a panel data framework for our sample during the period between 2001 and 2017. My paper's main findings reveal that the economic sizes of Commonwealth of Independent States members have a positive effect on China's energy import flow from the Commonwealth of Independent States. Furthermore, the amount of the Commonwealth of Independent States 's annual energy exports to countries other than China has a significant negative effect on the level of China's energy imports from the Commonwealth of Independent States. In regard to geographic distance, findings showed a negative sign of its coefficient meaning that geographical distance might decelerate energy trade flows running from the Commonwealth of Independent States to China. I also discovered that China's foreign direct investment in Commonwealth of Independent States states might determine and accelerate energy export flows running from the Commonwealth of Independent States to China. Finally, our major findings proved the evidence of a positive relationship between political risk in the Commonwealth of Independent States and the energy importing flows of China.