The "One Belt, One Road" Chinese Initiative: Strategies, Tactics, and Challenges

China has relatively recently promoted the dual Silk Road Economic Belt policy initiative, comprising the Overland Silk Road spanning the Eurasian Continent and the 21st century Maritime Silk Road. This paper presents the characteristics and structure of this so called “One Belt, One Road” Chinese initiative, which aims to revive the ancient trade routes connecting Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and to better connect the Euro-Asia economic circle. The strategy is presented as a series of interelated infrastructure capital projects, but also as a coherent initiative, that needs to be detailed under a coordinated plan. The Overland Silk Road is detailed, including an assessment of issues to be addressed to render the railway corridors a notable alternative to maritime routes, and the relevant policy environment is analyzed. The Maritime Silk Road is also examined, including an analysis of strategies and tactics related to the Mediterranean Sea and the access to Central and Northern Europe. A series of policy scenarios and options are present and their potential is assessed.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AT020 Standing Committee on International Trade and Transportation. Alternate title: "One Belt, One Road" Chinese Initiative: Strategies, Tactics, and Challenges.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Boile, Maria
  • Theofanis, Sotirios
  • Betak, John
  • Kortsari, Annie
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 95th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2016-1-10 to 2016-1-14
• Date: 2016

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 17p
• Monograph Title: TRB 95th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: International trade; Land bridge; Railroad transportation; Trade routes; Water transportation
• Identifier Terms: Silk Road
• Geographic Terms: China
• Subject Areas: Economics; Freight Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01591891
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 16-5869
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 29 2016 4:53PM