Zhang Gaoli sought to drum up interest in the ambitious trade and infrastructure network in the Caucasus.
By Peter Bittner
THE DIPLOMAT - June 11, 2016
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli recently wrapped up a nine-day trip
to Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, during which he sought to
gain traction for the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative, China’s
proposed plan to link the world’s second largest economy to Europe via
Central Asia.
The Silk Road Economic Belt and the complementary Maritime Silk Road
were proposed by the Chinese government in 2013, with the aim of
building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe
and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes. The twin projects are
collectively referred to as “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR).
As Xinhua reports,
on May 30, Zhang met with Russian Vice Premier Arkady Dvorkovich, who
spoke in strong support of the integration of the OBOR initiative with
the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union. In May 2015, Russia and China
signed a joint declaration on the integration of the two regional
development projects.
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