Q. ‘Belt and road Initiative’ is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of

  • African Union
  • Brazil
  • European union
  • China

Answer: (d) China

China’s Belt and Road Initiative:
  • The BRI, represents a multifaceted development strategy aimed at enhancing global connectivity and cooperation.
  • It was launched in 2013 and aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Gulf region, Africa and Europe with a network of land and sea routes.
    • The project was first named the ‘One Belt, One Road’ but renamed as the BRI to convey a more open and inclusive initiative as opposed to a Chinese-dominated one.
  • The initiative includes two principal components: the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road.
  • Routes of BRI:
    • Silk Road Economic Belt:
      • This segment of the BRI is dedicated to improving connectivity, infrastructure, and trade links across Eurasia through a network of overland transportation routes.
    • Maritime Silk Road:
      • This component emphasizes maritime connections and cooperation in the form of ports, shipping routes, and maritime infrastructure projects.
        • It begins via the South China Sea going towards Indo-China, South-East Asia and then around the Indian Ocean thus reaching Africa and Europe.
  • Objective:
    • The primary goal of the BRI is to boost international connectivity by enhancing infrastructure, trade, and economic cooperation.
      • The initiative encompasses a wide range of projects, including railways, ports, highways, and energy infrastructure.
  • Geographic Corridors:
    • The land-based Silk Road Economic Belt envisions six key corridors for development:
      • China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
      • New Eurasian Land Bridge Economic Corridor.
      • China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor.
      • China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor.
      • China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor.
      • China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative