An Analysis Of CAFTA From The Angle Of Geographic Economy

CAFTA (China and Association of South-east Asian Nations Free Trade Arrangement) is founded in 2002. It will be the third largest FTA in the world, just behind Europe Union and North America Free Trade Arrangement. There have been many essays researching CAFTA. Differently, this essay did the research in the aspect of geographic economy.This essay is divided into three parts. In the first part, at beginning, the author quoted some definitions from some researchers and did some analysis. Step by step, not only geographic economy's definition but also its characteristics, main ideas, relevant theories are also demonstrated clearly and specifically in this part. In order to make the definition of geographic economy more distinct, the author then attaches importance to the comparison between geographic economy and its relevant theories.In the second part, this essay firstly demonstrates the main content of CAFTA. Afterwards, as CAFTA is founded by China and ASEAN (Association of South-east Asian Nations), the author illustrates the strategic meaning that CAFTA pose to China and ASEAN in the aspect of geographic economy. That is to say, CAFTA will facilitate China to maintain its geographic economic strategic profits in Southeast Asia; to promote the development of Yunnan province, Guizhou province and Guangxi zhuang autonomous region in China; to strengthen the economic relationship between China and ASEAN and to accelerate the economic development of ASEAN countries; to facilitate ASEAN to promote the cooperation in East Asia and to help ASEAN countries to reduce the trade relying on Europe, America and Japan and to achieve its trade multiplicationOn the foundation of the previous two parts, the third part is about the current situation of CAFTA, the challenges facing CAFTA and the future development of CAFTA in the aspect of geographic economy.