scholarly journals On The Crossroads of Economy and Environment: Nepal and BRI

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-161
Author(s):  
Niha Pandey ◽  
Binita Subedi
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Development Model ◽  
Social Stability ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Infrastructure Projects ◽  
Economic Returns ◽  
International Regime ◽  
Environmental Threats ◽  
The World ◽  
Belt And Road

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has imploded the international regime with much speculation and expectation. Primarily an economic move, BRI has its roots in infrastructure building around the less developed parts of the world in an attempt to increase connectivity and collaboration for trade among and between these states with all of them connected to Beijing. While BRI promises massive economic returns through connectivity, the question of environmental sustainability hangs in a balance. The situation is graver still for a country like Nepal that has been struggling for politico-economic as well as social stability. The dilemma discussed here is not only unique to Nepal, but reverberates through many developing and economically challenged nations around the world. The complexity of the situation becomes apparent not only because of environmental threats that loom large over the country, owing to mega infrastructure projects, but the lack of political as well as economic measures that need to be in place in order to assuage and counter the eminent threats through proper steps. All this requires further elaboration on how the Nepalese infrastructure sector and the BRI development model promise to address environmental sustainability. Nepal’s already constrained economy hangs in the dilemma following its decision to join the initiative.

scholarly journals Belt and Road Initiative: Interim Results and Challenges During Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 42-51
Author(s):  
N. Pyzhikov ◽  
E. Gushchin
Keyword(s):  
Selection Process ◽  
Foreign Debt ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
The World ◽  
Belt And Road

The article analyses the current status of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), its key achievements and challenges, including those related to the COVID 19 pandemic. In the 2010s China has become one of world’s largest investors and BRI is one of the most important tools of Chinese investment policy. Due to its flexible structure, BRI has been able to adjust and develop in the context of the U.S. – China trade war and the growing anti-Chinese sentiment in the world that included the concerns over so called China’s debt diplomacy. But this lack of rigidity is also a challenge to those who study BRI because there is no official list of projects (estimations vary between 118 and 374) and countries participating in BRI (up to 138). China’s key BRI partner is Pakistan. The total value of projects implemented by China in Pakistan as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was initially estimated at $46 billion but now exceeds $70 billion (new projects were signed even during the pandemic). BRI is increasing the number of its participants. In March 2019 Italy became the first G7 country to sign a BRI MoU with China. While implementing BRI China has faced such challenges as rising concerns of “China’s debt trap”, as well as ecological and political issues. In 2020 BRI is facing a new challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic. Some BRI projects were postponed because of the pandemic, but in some cases they were unaffected. There are 64 out of 138 countries participating in BRI that come from low and lower-middle income groups according to the World Bank classification. Their average ratio of foreign debt to GDP was 54% in 2018–2019. It is most likely that these countries will be hit hard by the coronacrisis. Thus the pandemic will encourage China to tighten the selection process for BRI projects with a focus on the most strategically important and cost effective ones. From the point of view of China’s BRI partners, the effect can be two-fold: the most unstable economies will increase their dependence on China, while with the economically strong countries China will be more willing to make concessions and offer more favorable conditions for cooperation.

scholarly journals The Belt and Road Initiative – Shared Development or a Threat for the World Economy?

2021 ◽  
Vol XXIV (Issue 1) ◽  
pp. 364-381
Author(s):  
Robert Ciborowski ◽  
Ewa Oziewicz ◽  
Sylwia Pangsy-Kania
Keyword(s):  
World Economy ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
The World ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Belt And Road

scholarly journals ANALYZING AMERICAN VALUES IN BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE (BRI)

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (15) ◽  
pp. 1439-1447
Author(s):  
Siti Nurhasanah ◽  
Marthen Napang ◽  
Syaiful Rohman
Keyword(s):  
Manifest Destiny ◽  
Silk Road ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Investment Bank ◽  
The Us ◽  
The World ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Silk Route ◽  
The 19Th Century

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was initiated by Xi Jinping after being elected as the president of China in 2012. BRI connects Asia, Africa, and Europe based on shared-destiny to created trade routes integrates main centers of economic vitality. This project gave benefit for all participating countries, such as providing help for poorer regions. Even China created a financial system that supports this project, called The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and The New Development Bank (NDB). China's efforts to expand its influence in the world are similar to US efforts in the 19th century, known as Manifest Destiny. Americans believed that the US is destined to expand the territories westward approaching Pacific Ocean and spreading democracy. This effort is also highly related to their belief that the US is a City upon a Hill. There was some belief that the US becomes a great country that leads other nations in the world. The focus of this paper is two American beliefs in the context of China's effort to increasing its economic and military power in the world by reactivating the Silk route. The author uses the concept of Tianxia as City upon a Hill and Manifest Destiny in Chinese version in analyzing China's measures to increase its strength on an international level. The author will further analyze how these beliefs being adopted by Chinese government in realizing its dream of regaining the glory of managing silk-road, making it the new silk-road. Keywords: Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), New Silk Route, Manifest Destiny, City upon a Hill, Tianxia

China's Belt and Road Initiative

2019 ◽  
pp. 117-142
Author(s):  
Muhammad Khalil Khan ◽  
Cornelius B. Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Development Model ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Financial Investment ◽  
Islamic World ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Security Challenges ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
China’S Foreign Policy

China's multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a common fixture on the radar of policymakers and researchers because of the massive financial investment it involves and the economic opportunities it provides disadvantaged Eurasian states. BRI promises fast-track infrastructural development, transnational connectivity, and unimpeded trade. It predicates economic growth in developing countries on the shared development model. However, BRI has also engendered sensitive economic and security challenges. The Islamic world embraces BRI even as China's engagement there poses critical challenges to its foreign policy. This chapter highlights key markers on the landscape of BRI projects in the Islamic world and presents their implications for China's foreign policy. It also provides useful policy guidelines for a more effective implementation of BRI-related projects, thereby protecting China from possible conflict with regional and global powers.

scholarly journals The Belt and Road Initiative: China’s New Geopolitical Strategy?

2018 ◽  
Vol 04 (03) ◽  
pp. 327-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhexin Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
International Environment ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social And Economic Development ◽  
The World ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Cooperation Strategy ◽  
Peaceful Development ◽  
The Belt And Road

Since its launch in late 2013, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has achieved many tangible results that may have lasting effect on the social and economic development of host countries and on the geopolitical dynamics of the world. Its emergence in international political discourse is changing the basic thinking and logic of traditional geopolitical competition. While Western countries tend to interpret the BRI as part of China’s hidden geopolitical strategy to ultimately rule the world, Chinese and most developing nations see it as China’s international cooperation strategy to enhance global connectivity, communication and cooperation, so as to foster a more balanced and equitable world system. To maintain a favorable international environment for further progress of the BRI, China needs to better explain the details concerning the initiative as well as its role in the country’s grand strategy of peaceful development. Meanwhile, China must keep striving to match its words with its deeds in global arenas, so as to win more trust and support from the international community in jointly implementing the initiative.

It’s All about the Coalition

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-354
Author(s):  
Sovinda Po ◽  
Christopher B. Primiano
Keyword(s):  
International System ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Negative View ◽  
The World ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
The Media ◽  
Economic Ties ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Strategic Goal

Abstract Since its creation in 2013, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has received ample attention in the media and from government officials and scholars. Many different, and often polarising, views exist on BRI. While some view it as China’s grand strategic goal of remaking the world in its own image, others perceive it as consistent with the international system. Using interviews conducted in Cambodia and an examination of press sources, this article draws from the selectorate theory to examine both why the Cambodian government is siding with China regarding economic ties, specifically regarding BRI, and the impact that is having on popular perception in Cambodia. The small coalition in Cambodia that Hun Sen seeks to placate results in a negative view among a significant segment of the Cambodian populace regarding Cambodia’s relations with China, and Chinese investments in particular.

China’s Balkan investments will expand into new areas

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Infrastructure Projects ◽  
Local Economies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Currency ◽  
Transport Connectivity ◽  
Balkan Countries ◽  
Chinese Policy ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Second Wave

Subject BRI’s evolving nature. Significance China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is establishing ‘anchor’ investments and creating BRI clusters, particularly in transport connectivity and energy. Such anchor investments as Cosco’s in Piraeus or Belgrade’s Friendship Bridge serve as catalysts, attracting more Chinese companies and setting the stage for expansion. Impacts Continued concessional lending by Chinese policy banks for infrastructure projects in Balkan countries will increase the risk of debt traps. Mitigating the currency risks of such lending arrangements by switching to local currency lending will gain pace. A second wave of BRI-related activities is starting with Huawei, Tencent, Alibaba and WeChat making inroads in local economies.

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