The keys to businesses, governments, and even individuals having influence and power in the world that is being re-made by China are: connectivity and co-operation.
What exactly are China’s future plans for development and economic growth in Eurasia?
Without a desire for connectivity and co-operation [sic], you will not be granted authority in the new environment being established. The climate of the greenhouse is being controlled so as to produce great fruit, with the well-being of all in mind, and China to thank for it.
China’s President Xi Jinping calls this monumental strategy the “Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Road Plan” or more simply put “One Belt One Road Initiative”. In this grand maneuver to establish cooperation, connectivity, trade and friendship (yes, they use the word friendship in this economic strategy) there are six “economic corridors” that are currently in the process of being accepted and implemented by national governments. China has been convening frequently with international leaders in Eurasia for the last few years. Below is an outline of proposed and current projects.
This map from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council is entitled “A Roadmap To Start Your Own Business”:
For people new to this concept I have taken short quotes from HKTDC site, and added my personal analysis.
(1) The New Eurasia Land Bridge Economic Corridor
The New Eurasia Land Bridge…is an international railway line running from Lianyungang in China’s Jiangsu province through Alashankou in Xinjiang to Rotterdam in Holland.
Interpretation: Cargo rail bringing goods from China right into the heart of Europe.
(2) The China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor
Linked by land, China, Mongolia and Russia have long established various economic ties and co-operation by way of frontier trade and cross-border co-operation…the building of China’s Silk Road Economic Belt, the renovation of Russia’s Eurasia Land Bridge and the proposed development of Mongolia’s Steppe Road…will strengthen rail and highway connectivity and construction and promote trade.
Interpretation: Russia and China’s relational ties are strengthened. Mongolia rising as a third, will be brought up to speed as transportation connects the large land bridge between old friends.
(3) China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor
…to join the railway networks of Central Asia and West Asia before reaching the Mediterranean coast and the Arabian Peninsula. The corridor mainly covers five countries in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan)…national development strategies including Kazakhstan’s “Road to Brightness”, Tajikistan’s “Energy, Transport and Food” and Turkmenistan’s “Strong and Happy Era”.
Interpretation: Developing the developing world through infrastructure, investment programs, and communications. Working hard in post-USSR Muslim countries to establish trust and cultural atmospheres of peace so that instability isn’t created in the region. Corrupt governments, disenchantment and future volatile rebel movements could put the whole strategy at risk; and yet, China cannot bypass the Muslim world if they want to connect the East to the West. What they can do is try and help make Muslim people happy.
(4) China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor
Nations suggested (1) jointly planning and building an extensive transportation network, as well as number of industrial co-operation projects; (2) creating a new mode of co-operation for fundraising; and (3) promoting sustainable and co-ordinated socio-economic development. Currently…highways are under construction…an international railway recently opened…greater passage to China via air.
Interpretation: Developing the developing world through transportation, financing, factories, job creation, education, green industries. Responding to the felt needs of poor nations, while creating a market in those nations for both your factories and your goods. Brilliant.
(5) China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
Renovating existing highways. Building highways, international railway, a new international airport, oil and natural gas pipelines and optic fibre networks stretching from Kashgar (China) to Gwadar Port (Pakistan).
Interpretation: Strengthening ground transportation so they can reach the Indian Ocean from China. Why optic fibre networks? Perhaps China sees Pakistan as the next pool for computer engineers, an ironic rival to India. Where there is healthy competition, enterprise and capitalism can flourish.
(6) Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor
In 2013 the four nations convened and reached extensive consensus on co-operation in such areas as transportation infrastructure, investment and commercial circulation, and people-to-people connectivity.
Interpretation: It seems easy to suppose that India dominated the talks based on the results. While there is the idea of developing the developing world through infrastructure, India is certainly not looking for handouts. They want freedom of movement, a wider market for their people, services, and small businesses. At the exchange of importing China’s goods, they see the opportunity of a wider job market for their rising educated middle-class, as well as bringing rural peoples (much of India, Bangladesh, China and Myanmar is rural) out of isolation and into relationship. What both India and China have going for them, as warm-cultured Asians with huge populations, is that they believe in the power of relationship.
Connectivity is the name of the game.
If you are an optimist — get your TESOL certificate.
If you are an opportunist — buy gold.
And If your are a pessimist — learn Mandarin.