Commentary
But their "principal to principal" model will only be as effective as the political strength of each leader back home.
Damien Ma
Research
City Diplomacy in Response to Multiple Crises: The 2024 Cities and International Engagement Survey
Amidst a globalized and highly interconnected landscape of urban governance, city diplomacy has emerged as an increasingly critical avenue for cities to access the knowledge, best practices, investment, and materials necessary to support their residents through challenging times.
By Daniel Pejic, Samuel Kling, Amelia Leavesley, Ian Klaus, Ika Trijsburg, Anna Kosovac, Michele Acuto
Published on Mar 21, 2025
About the Authors
Daniel Pejic
Samuel Kling
Amelia Leavesley
Ian Klaus
Founding Director, Carnegie California
Ian Klaus is the founding director of Carnegie California. He is a leading scholar on the nexus of urbanization, geopolitics, and global challenges, with extensive experience as a practitioner of subnational diplomacy.
Ika Trijsburg
Anna Kosovac
Michele Acuto
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Carnegie China
- Trump and Xi Are Angling for Three Years of Stability
- China Sells Stability Amid American VolatilityCommentary
U.S. unpredictability has allowed China to capitalize on its positioning as the “responsible great power”. Paradoxically, the more China wins the perception game, the more likely expectations will rise for Beijing to deliver not just words but to demonstrate with its deeds.
Chong Ja Ian
- Why Vietnam Is Swinging in China’s DirectionCommentary
Hanoi and Beijing have long treated each other as distant cousins rather than comrades in arms. That might be changing as both sides draw closer to hedge against uncertainty and America’s erratic behavior.
Nguyễn Khắc Giang
- China’s Energy Security Doesn’t Run Through Hormuz but Through the Electrification of EverythingCommentary
Across Asia, China is better positioned to withstand energy shocks from the fallout of the Iran war. Its abundant coal capacity can ensure stability in the near term. Yet at the same time, the country’s energy transition away from coal will make it even less vulnerable during the next shock.
Damien Ma
- Malaysia’s Year as ASEAN Chair: Managing DisorderCommentary
Malaysia’s chairmanship sought to fend off short-term challenges while laying the groundwork for minimizing ASEAN’s longer-term exposure to external stresses.
Elina Noor
