Headline June 07, 2017/ ''' CHINA'S GLOBAL CHIMES '''

''' CHINA'S GLOBAL CHIMES '''

CHINA'S AMBITIOUS   Belt and Road Initiative [BRI] got very top billing as delegations from  over  100 states, including   28 world leaders gathered in-

Beijing for a summit showcasing the   *world's first massive cross-continental connectivity'  master plan.

It was  going to be quite a party. And so it was, and well beyond that.  And so it should have been. 

With billions of dollars of planned investments ranging from ports in Pakistan and Siri Lanka to  very high speed railways in Europe and Africa- 

To gas pipelines in Central Asia, the  BRI is unparalleled in its scope, vision and amount of money involved.

And the  multi-million dollar initiative to connect China with Europe, Asia and Africa is gathering momentum as more and more countries sign up, old and new projects are brought under the  BRI   umbrella and China begins to address some of the concerns voiced by partner countries and critics.

Estimates about the amount of money involved in the in the plan vary enormously.     Credit Suisse Group AG says    the  BRI could funnel investments worth as much as $502 billion into 62 countries over five years. Other estimates put the bill much higher.

The main point to remember is that the blue print is an evolving one. Projects in New Zealand, Britain and the Arctic are now within the  BRI embrace. Others could come in later.

And while the money at stake is important for the countries engaging in the plan, the BRI is about more than just investments.

Make no mistake this is about fashioning a new world, one where Washington no longer calls the shots. And that's exactly what is scaring many.

First mentioned by  Chinese President Xi Jinping 2013, the BRI clearly articulates  China's vision of its role in a  changing  and  increasingly uncertain,  uncertain global order.

The timing is perfect.  As US President Donald Trump continues to send mixed messages on his international commitments  and the strength of his global engagement, including on trade and investments and-

Europe grapples with  Brexit  and other crisis   -the Chinese initiative is securing additional traction and credibility.

Not surprisingly,  Washington and Tokyo are not too pleased. Europe is interested but cautious.

Other countries are  happy to engage  and see how they can best benefit from this sterling plan.

So what exactly do we know about  BRI?

FIRST,   it's  undoubtedly and  unabashedly about  geopolitics and  geo-economics and  China's self confident  repositioning of itself on the great global stage.

While  Washington and  Tokyo    -and some countries in Europe   -may think such rejigging of the world could be dangerous, many other states aren't too worried.

After all  ''Brand America''  isn't too popular in many parts of the globe. And while China isn't always the  gentlest  of  interlocutors, many countries are ready for a change.

SECOND : the  BRI is only part of the story.

Significantly,  China's Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank  [ AIIB ] is working in tandem with the  BRI, to meet the world's enormous infrastructure investment needs.

The $40 billion  Silk Road Fund  is also an important tool to finance Infrastructure projects.

And even as the US withdraws from the  Trans-Pacific Partnership  [TPP], the pan-Asian [excluding China] trade pact, China and the countries in the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations  [ASEAN] are moving ahead with the-

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership [RECP] trade deal to boost trade within the region

Importantly, President Xi, who made a strong stand for globalization and trade liberalization at the  Davos World Economic Forum in January this 

year, is expected to do so again at the  BRI forum.

THIRD, there's little doubt that the world needs to get better connected. Global infrastructure needs are enormous.

Better connectivity is crucial for trade, to attract investments and to achieve some of the most crucial anti-poverty goals included in the Agenda 2030  sustainable development goals.

FOURTH : BRI is not just about helping others. Search for new engines for domestic economic growth are the main driver.

China wants to boost growth in the western regions which lag behind the well-developed east coast.

Steel and cement are in oversupply and will be used in the  BRI projects. There will be job creations for thousands of Chinese workers but also foreign nationals involved in the project,  

The Honour and Serving of the latest  Operational Research  on  Changing Geopolitical Order  continues. Thank Ya all for reading and for sharing forward with the world. And see you on the following one.

With most respectful dedication : H.E.  President Xi Jinping / China, and to the people of China, Students, Professors and Teachers. 

See Ya on !WOW!   -the World Students Society and  Twitter-!E-WOW!  -the Ecosystem 2011:

''' Great Expectations '''

Good Night and God Bless

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