Paths International Ltd

Abstract:

In 2013, during the visit to Central Asia and Southeast Asia, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the initiative to jointly build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (hereinafter referred to as the “Belt and Road Initiative”), which has attracted much international attention.

This article consists of four chapters. In Chapter I “Regional Powers and Hot Issues in the Greater Central Asia Economic Circle”, we first analyze Russia’s main strategic targets in Central Asia and the means it has taken to realize them, then we trace Iran’s expanding presence in Gulf states and Central Asia after signing the nuclear deal, and probe into the security issue in Afghanistan and Pakistan. On top of that, we propose development suggestions in light of China’s analysis of the strategic goals in this region. In Chapter II “Constructing the Indian Ocean Economic Circle with the Four Economic Corridors as Pillars”, we first analyze the development situation in and major challenges faced by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and give a systematic introduction to major programs and the future development direction of the Corridor. Then we take a look at China’s achievements and challenges in Ethiopia-Djibouti, Uganda-Kenya and Rwanda-Tanzania Economic Corridors. On top of that, we make suggestions on how to construct the Indian Ocean

Economic Circle with the four Economic Corridors as pillars. In Chapter III “Promoting the Integration of the Bay of Bengal Economic Circle”, we first look at major challenges to the Bay of Bengal

region in advancing regional integration, and then probe deep into India’s influence in this region. We also reflect on the, we difficulties to the development of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, point out the fundamental cause, and based on that, we make suggestions on how to facilitate the development of the Corridor by accelerating the integration of the Bay of Bengal Economic Circle. In Chapter IV “Conclusions and Suggestions”, we summarize major international relations and regional hot issues that we must deal with in order to extend the Belt and Road Initiative westward, and offer our advice.