Abstract:Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Caspian coastal countries have fallen into incessant debates over the legal status and the division of the Caspian Sea for more than 20 years. The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, signed at the Summit of the Caspian States( the so-called “Caspian five” countries) on August 12,2018,puts an end to this situation temporarily. The signing of The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea results from the compromises among the Caspian Sea countries under the new situations. The signature of this Convention not only lays a legal foundation for the establishment of a new system in the Caspian Sea region, but also will play an important role in the stability of the Caspian Sea region, the development and export of oil and gas resources and the maintenance of global energy security. Although the signature of this Convention demonstrates important positive significance, this Convention still implies some ambiguities on some key issues, such as the absence of specific and clear-cut dispute settlement solutions, the ambiguity of division rules for seabed and seafloor, etc. In conclusion, the signature of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea is of great significance, but it is not enough to resolve the Caspian Sea issue once and for all.

Keywords:The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, summit of the Caspian states, Caspian resource development, regional stability, global energy security About the

Author:Zhou Ming is Associate Professor at the Institute of Central Asian Studies and School of Politics and International Relations, Lanzhou University; Zhai Huasheng is a graduate student at the School of Politics and International Relations, Lanzhou University. Zhou Ming, Zhai Huasheng