Via the Asia Times, a report on CPEC’s changing power dynamics: Pakistan is changing direction on China’s Belt and Road in an apparent bid to assuage Beijing amid rising security risks to its in-country nationals, interests and investments. In a surprise and still unexplained move, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced last week that businessman Khalid […]
Read more »Via The Third Pole, a close look at Gwadar – Pakistan’s key CPEC port which is a long way from trade hub vision: There are big plans for Pakistan’s southern coastal city of Gwadar. Pakistan and China are making a considerable effort – and pledging close to USD 700 million in investment – to transform what […]
Read more »Via Geopolitical Monitor, an article on China’s investments in Laos: Around mid-August, the final tracks will be laid on a 420 km high-speed railway in Laos, enabling the first trains to be tested on the Chinese-built line. Work on the project began in 2016, seeking to link the southern Chinese city of Kunming with Laotian capital Vientiane, […]
Read more »Via Al Monitor, a report on Chinese oil companies’ increased interest in Iraq: Western oil companies have started to pull out of central and southern Iraq and are being replaced by Chinese companies following terrorist attacks against facilities and reports of extortion from tribes, militias and bureaucratic officials in state institutions. Meanwhile, Iraq has halted its plans to […]
Read more »Via Belt & Road News, a report of a new Chinese investment in Iraq: Chinese companies have agreed to build three factories in Iraq for manufacturing ceramics and cardboard with a total value of around $980 million. The projects in the Southern AL-Muthanna Governorate bordering Kuwait and Saudi Arabia comprise a ceramics factory at a […]
Read more »Via Silk Road Briefing, a look at how China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization have a role to play in Afghanistan’s future: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has just held its Council of Foreign Ministers this week in Dushanbe, Tajikistan to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan. “A thorough exchange of views […]
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