China's Belt and Road
Lifting China from a regional to a global power China's 'The Belt and Road' plan is an economic initiative that if successful, will change the world's geopolitical centre of gravity and lift China from a regional to a global power. The $4 trillion project will aim to connect land areas and sea routes into an economic block that will cover about; "65 percent of the world's population, about one-third of the world's GDP, and about a quarter of all the goods and services the world moves." [1] What is The Belt and Road? Belt and Road. Source : Xinhua Finance Agency, 2015. The Belt and Road seeks to emulate and extend the ancient Silk Routes which established the region, and China in particular, as one of the world's most important regions up to a few centuries ago. As a report by China's State Council puts it: "The Belt and Road Initiative aims to promote the connectivity of Asian, European and African continents and their ...