In July 2017, Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao traveled to Tunisia for the 5th edition of “Tunisia-China a partnership for the future” forum. During the meeting, several Tunisian officials expressed their willingness to see Tunisia participate in the “Belt and
Thailand’s high speed train to China
In late August 2017, the Government of Thailand announced that the construction of a high-speed train line between Bangkok and Nong Khai, a border town next Laos, will start next October. The first phase of this project will consist of
Tajikistan at the 9th BRICS summit
From September 3rd to 5th 2017, the 9th BRICS summit will be held in Xiamen. The BRICS are the association of the five major emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.) The five powers will seek to expand
A double currency for Italy?
What would be the impact on the BRI? In late August 2017, Silvio Berlusconi, former Italian Prime Minister, who hopes to return to the highest office of the Republic revived his idea of a double currency for Italy. According to
New rules for Chinese overseas investments
On August 18, 2017, China’s State Council disclosed new rules regarding Chinese investments abroad. According to the new regulation, Chinese companies will have to restrict their investments abroad in the most speculative sectors such as real estate, sports, entertainment, and
Gulf states’ interest in the Belt and Road Initiative
In August 2017, several initiatives took place in the Persian Gulf that illustrated regional interest in the BRI. Dubai-based Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University organized a round table on Islamic finance and the Belt and Road initiative. This event brought
Yumen, from oil to culture
A recent article published in the China Daily describes the transformation of some cities in Western China through the Belt and Road initiative. The town of Yumen in the province of Gansu is being transformed partly through the “Belt and
Education is a priority of the Belt and Road Initiative
To ensure the success of the OBOR, China is putting on education. The One Belt, One Road program aims not only at strengthening exchanges between China and the rest of the world but also at ensuring the development of Asia.
Zhang Dejiang’ visit to Poland
Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, paid an official visit to Poland from 12 to 16 July 2017, he met with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Beata Szydlo. Both parties
AIIB’s AAA
After having been positively evaluated by Moody’s credit rating agency in late June 2017, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank received the excellent AAA rating from Fitch, another credit rating agency in July 2017. For Fitch, the risks facing this Regional