Reviving the 'silk road' - Inside Story

Chinese President Xi Jinping is hosting a two-day summit to win support for an ambitious economic project designed to transform world trade.
The "One Belt, One Road" initiative is a modern take on the old 'silk road'.
Marco Polo pioneered the route from Europe to Asia around 750 years ago.
The latest project aims to create a vast network of new trade routes in central Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
So, how will it change global trade, who will benefit and can it succeed?
Presenter: Sami Zeidan
Guests:
Pauline Loong - Asia-Analytica
Jabin T Jacob - Institute of Chinese Studies
Bruno Macaes - Portugal's former junior minister for Europe
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[@wiseass2149]

The USA must start doing this in Latin America. Instead of building walls. The USA must build new trade infrastructures and economic zones throughout the Western hemisphere. That's the only bridge to peace in the long terms.

[@trenttrent9436]

China isn't forcing debt on any countries. They know the terms of the loans when they sign.

[@isunlloaoll]

Even EU countries like Italy, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, Finland, and Hungary joined up.

[@kongwee1978]

I wonder why Indians so engross to youtube comments. However it is more interesting than videos. *popcorn*

[@wangray9456]

I mean, you can list all the problems but if you don't do something to improve your life, no one will. Even eventually it won't happen as planned, at least you tried. So let's do this and solve the problems one at a time.

[@test-mm7bv]

great guests and civil discussion.

[@sunshine7453]

China will play the major role in this Silk road because they will be the one who pay the major part of it and the risk is high. A train road thru Central Asia will benefit many countries in that region. I worked in Central Asia before the the region is desperate need of access to the rest of the world but they cannot afford it and remains backward. They won't have do business with China only but they get access to Europe and more. They do not have to do business with China if they do not choose to. So the arguments here are the same classical debate when a country build new infrastructure that benefit many years several generation after. It takes a great vision of the future to embark in such venture and China is willing to do it. The connection will no doubt to free and open up to the outside world first to Central Asia and Europe-Asia. This idea is not new but the cost is prohibitive and not one dare to do it so far. It will surely change the world!!!

[@tonebalone9203]

funny how this is no where in our press, in the US lol

[@henrikgustav2294]

the sea route skips straits of malacca ? a new canal for malaysia-thailand ?

[@peterwang5196]

These central Asian countries were called by USA think tanks as arc of instability. Yet China proposed these countries to be arc of prosperity.

[@thndrngest]

al jazeera supposed to be an alternative news source from the west but the rhetorics ... ahhh what a waste of a platform ...

[@willengel2458]

as of may 2019 all US vassals in the gulf have signed up with BRI. LOL

[@adm7038]

This is not an economic project. The PRC uses part of its wealth to build these massive infrastructures in countries that cannot support them or repay the debt. The end result will be PRC owning equity in these facilities (especially ports and airports). Sri-Lanka could not service the debt and has now given China majority equity in Hambantota, the most strategically located port in the Indian Ocean. The same will happen with Gwadar and agricultural projects in Pakistan. What you then have is a new East India Company.

[@stephencyang6628]

When benefits begin to be realized, Mr. Xi's vision and efforts will win him the Nobel Peace prize.

[@zhengli8863]

the guest from different region, their argument point is purely same, the 'silk road' looks a trap.

[@chrischen1178]

You know, Americans do not like to see other countries to prosper. There will be less people willing to immigrate to America if other countries start to prosper and there will be less need for holding US dollars if other countries start to prosper. I would not blame them because it is the nature for an immigrating country to see other countries doing terribly.

[@bb89670]

The funds they are using belong to the Philippines.

[@drxuinnz]

the Indian lecturer knows nothing about China. who said other countries do not like use RMB, go to Korea have a look, haha

[@ParikshitBhujbal]

Expanding its footprint in the world under the guise of trade.

[@anissyahromi5671]

Parikshit Bhujbal exactly,xi is smart,you dont need war if you want something from other,just press their economy and they will oblidge

[@mjcard]

Parikshit Bhujbal That's history.

[@ndew-tu9lq]

I find it hard to believe China is doing this out of the kindness of their heart, over 240 million to carry out this project? I get that the Shanghai Cooperation Operation is a newly founded alley between Russia, China, and Middle Eastern countries but surely China is looking to gain something big out of this ordeal. Resources maybe, putting countries in debt maybe, who knows but i'm skeptical.

[@amadeuslee7299]

seriously ? the word devil was used more than silk road ? it's 2017, try playing God's advocate and things will work out great. improve your vocabulary, if your going to be debating world issues at hand. people need to stop glorifying and using some moron's boogie man, that they made up. And for the Host, if you want to ask something, ask it for yourself, not some idiots fictional nothing. Now back to the topic, There nothing wrong with china dealing with countries everyone else doesn't want to deal with. Making cups and chopsticks and stuff cheap enough for everyone to profit off from. People make money off china, and fund wars with paying taxes... And whats wrong with the Silk Road ? Was there someone using it ? the last that i recall its, all sand right now. Maybe a oasis will sprout up, maybe china will build clean energy in the desert, one thing is for sure, no one else is doing anything. I honestly think if we are trading, were not fighting. If we are arguing we are not going to war, because we are talking.

[@waranle961]

where is America in all this ?

[@ashalivarma4623]

I don’t think other countries should join this. It will only benefit China

[@shaheer151]

Couldn't help but laugh at this presentation of OBOR as news when it's been going on for at least 10 years.....I guess they could no longer ignore it's success.

[@osmanjerry3272]

Nothing ventures nothing gains. Risks yes, but it is in the business spirit, is it not? To the west it is the political intents that concern them. However, here is the point to note. Do not fall back onto the political division of the past. I am thinking China is going to bring about a situation where no body is the boss, or every body is its own boss. And this is something very difficult for the ordinary people to believe, what more the dominating west. If you look at how China came up, open up the nation, more trade with others, and easy access are some important factors. And this is just what China is doing in this initiative, isn't it?

[@30seven4]

This is all really about ending the practice of pricing oil in Dollars.

[@zaiks0105]

Simple folks....I don't need to look far to predict how Chinese will act regarding this silk road/OBOR. Just take a look at South China Sea and Chinese behavior and determine if Chinese will be fair or not. I predict that just like Brexit, there will be OBORexit but unlike Brexit, it will span shorter time frame for countries involved.

[@zaiks0105]

Favorite phrase of my day, "Xi might invite all the heads of the state but at the very basic level, all of these projects are run **bilaterally** , not multi-lateral". In this bilateral relationship, it is China with X country. It reminds me of what China said in South China Sea land grab "We should resolve bilaterally with SCS countries"

[@midcent73b]

I don't get this silk road thing. Don't we already have sea route connecting many parts of the world to china?

[@deadlykitten6546]

i see nothing but 3 clowns embarrassing themselves, LOL

[@EuDouArteHipHopArtCulture21]

a panel of haters hn .

[@emilnemyl448]

One belt, one road. . prosperity for everyone for a few years, but when the loans kick in . . Actually, the humanity need to solve the real problem, not walking around it in circles. The real problem is, people are trying to earn more money by lending, not by building something with REAL RISKS. In a long run, that approach will choke the global economy with debt and there will be wars. Wars for what? For silly imaginary numbers, mankind should really grow up and I really doubt china will be an exception, yet another emerging imperium .

[@trenttrent9436]

India corridor? 😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@daniaalakram4309]

The Kashmir is not the part of India and the route is going on from Gilgit-Baltistan, which is an integral part of Pakistan nowadays same as the other part is with India. India constructed the dams in that part of Pakistan, Which is logically wrong if India is claiming for CPEC route to his territory. What India have, Pakistan can also claim that India shouldn't build the dam over there but India did that. So by the logic, India should demolish all the construction on the India occupied Kashmir and only then Pakistan will stop constructing of CPEC. Otherwise, Pakistan is free to construct whatever he wants.

[@sovonkumarnaskar7199]

the problem is china has put its nose in bilateral matter between india and fuckistan!

[@maxmohanmedia98]

Does the world really believe the OBOR to build road & rail infrastructure in Africa, Asia & ME that will transport passengers, and will not be used to transport Chinese troops to quell uprisings in host countries, as in Balouchistan for one? S.E.Asian countries have become de facto colonies of China which employs mercantilism to extract raw materials and ship finished goods eviscerating local manufacturing. With unfavorable Chinese financing, when the time is right will cinch the 'One Belt' in the unfortunate recipient country, a notch or two or three. Let's recognize a noose, for a noose. OUCH!

[@nirmantapaswee6853]

china is going to be humble leader, India is so jealous with it!

[@naveedulmustafa4518]

China+Pakistan+Russia+Turkey vs US+India+Japan

[@majeedmx7016]

givng air time to rivals bla bla bla

[@commentorl2555]

The host has to be the one presenting opposing viewpoints because they brought an extremely one sided panel. Pauline Loong is just another Gordon Chang who will forever be bearish on China, she sure was wrong last year when she said there wasn't growth drivers left. Either way it looks like it's got the go ahead, it's a long term project just starting, sit back and see what happens.

[@eltonzheng84]

commentor l She is bearish, but she does raise some really good points though. I still have no idea how this OBOR thing is going to do China any good.

[@ex0duzz]

It's going to increase China's soft power and international image/presence, along with helping increase trade/investment along that route/region of course.. and that is all good for China's future/security. The more entangled in trade and more other countries trade and rely on China for trade/development etc, the more 'safe' China will be from the US.. both militarily and in terms of soft power.

[@mrshangpa]

Elton Z Indeed I'm also trying to figure this out ... how this OBOR thing is going to do China any good? Does she really think that by building roads and investing in infrastructure people will become kind to each other? Look ... Americans are building walls instead ... some countries are speculating on gains and free rides ... while Japanese and Indians are already plotting skirmishes along the road ... the Chinese government is either being stupid ... if it overlooks the fact that engagement means exposure and risks especially if there are already enough bitterness and hostilities around the corners, or being overly courageous to take this enormously difficult leadership role on its shoulders.

[@eltonzheng84]

Jiamin Chen​ I get CPEC. China needs a backup route for energy import from the Middle East. To make sure this route is reliable, China is investing in Pak to ensure its own stability. The rest well... China is very capable in civil engineering. Maybe it's more of an export drive for civil engineering firms.

[@mrshangpa]

Elton Z By deeper engagement in some regions does it mean China is also prepared for possible military engagement to counter possible ... actually inevitable ... skirmishes, sabotages and attacks along the ”belt and road”? We all know why Tang Seng had to bring along the Monkey King Sun Wukong on his ”Journey to the West” ...

[@tonebalone9203]

maybe this is why trump met with shi that day.

[@tonebalone9203]

xi

[@momojijijiji]

Tone Balone eksi?

[@fearhungerpride]

Either this "Silk Road" will never happen, or it'll bankrupt China like the Trans-Siberian Railway bankrupted the Tsars.

[@ndew-tu9lq]

With the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, one of the strongest new alleys between countries including Russia, China, and many Middle Eastern Countries i find it unlikely that China will go bankrupt and this project will certainly happen. China and Russia are tired of watching Europe and America run the show and they're making big moves to strengthen ties together.

[@fearhungerpride]

It's a grand vision but the devil is in the detail. The central Asian countries will be expected to borrow heavily from Chinese banks to be able to afford the capital works. The terms will need to be very generous for any of the work to be considered, otherwise it's a debt trap. Sure, the Russians and the Chinese have been doing everything they can to undermine the international institutions that formed at the end of WW2, but both countries share a very long border that has seen numerous clashes in the 20th century. Their relationship is anything but harmonious. A smart US administration will play them off against each other like Nixon and Kissinger did in the 70s.

[@linma3050]

US damaged, China help to recover,haha

[@saraishinisayoutubetroll3720]

jialin ma. agreed 👍

[@oops541]

Totally agreed. You're cute ;)

[@linma3050]

شكرا

[@dantaylor7344]

Waste of 25 minute broadcast time. The questions can be answered in the first few seconds. 0:09 Define "Succeed" if it means richer getting richer yeah sure I can't see how it wouldn't but will it succeed in keeping local jobs I doubt it. 0:11 Who? It will benefit financial backers and big business corporate shafters owners etc..... never the little people, it never does, never has and never will. Finally 0:13 it won't change global trade, people will get goods a few hours earlier than they used to and maybe at a cheaper price but the real change will be your rights as a worker.........................they will evaporate into thin air.

[@dantaylor7344]

Democracy? Since WHEN has the USA been a democracy?

[@dantaylor7344]

When? Date?

[@odinponzi9224]

This is what happes when you try to make America great again - Obama

[@adamstone897]

Excuse me, Tribe of Annunaki has been ruling that trade route since a good 15,000 years ago. They'll still need our permission. Especially Radhanite Camelback Caravans, they'll need their permission to even think of this

[@pemmireddisai9158]

tv9

[@pemmireddisai9158]

v,6,x

[@hakanang]

15,000 years ago?

[@adamstone897]

Koon Wan Chao oh yeah, ever since we began beheading our deceased relatives before burying them with vultures

[@hakanang]

Is there any papers or literature that I can read about that part of history? History is hobby ever since retirement - if you are kind enough to share with me.

[@stevekim4162]

yep ..one way one road for china....all lies

[@Wolfangs88]

Keep hating mate

[@stevekim4162]

no hate mate. just facts.

[@soaprice2]

Steve L it's better than American bombs. i mean American democracy ain't it?