China’s Shrinking BRI Ambitions
April 5th, 2024
Via Geopolitical Futures, a report on how corruption, delays and boondoggles are transforming the Belt and Road Initiative: Last week, the head of China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection laid out the watchdog’s main goals for this year. His report focused on eliminating corruption and unhealthy practices associated with Beijing’s gargantuan, globe-spanning infrastructure development plan, […]
Read more »China to Woo Partners at ‘Digital Silk Road’ Forum Amidst Increasingly Divided Cyberspace
April 4th, 2024
Via South China Morning Post, a report on China’s plans to woo belt and road partners at ‘digital silk road’ forum in April amid an increasingly divided cyberspace: The Digital Silk Road Development Forum will kick off on April 16 in Xian, capital of western Shaanxi province With China at odds with Western countries in data […]
Read more »Xi Calls Indonesia High-Speed Rail a ‘Gold Standard’ of Ties
April 2nd, 2024
Via Nikkei Asia, an article on the early success of Indonesia’s high speed rail line and Jakarta’s consideration of extending the China-backed line as passengers cross 2m in 6 months: Indonesia’s first high-speed railway — a 140-kilometer Beijing-backed project connecting Jakarta and Bandung — has become a “gold standard” of bilateral cooperation, Chinese President Xi […]
Read more »China’s Increasing Involvement in Africa: Progressive or Retrogressive?
April 2nd, 2024
Via The Africa Report, commentary on the impact of China’s increasing involvement in Africa: Sino-Africa relations keep growing but analysts express concern that Chinese efforts in Africa that include exploitation of natural resources, and increasing market access on the continent have pros and cons. China says its loans to African countries are beneficial and promises […]
Read more »How a China-Built Railway is Connecting Ethiopia to the World
April 1st, 2024
Via Caixin News, an article on the Addis–Djibouti Railway which – since its launch – has transported over 677,000 passengers and nearly 9.47 million tons of freight: In the pre-dawn glow at the Akaki station just outside Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, people wait to board a train that quite literally connects Africa’s second most populous […]
Read more »China’s Exports To Central Asia Are Booming
March 28th, 2024
Via Asia Times, a report on China’s growing commercial engagement with Central Asia: Central Asia is becoming one of Eurasia’s main trade and transit hubs, with Kazakhstan in the forefront. Sino-Central Asian trade turnover stood atUS$89.4 billion at the end of 2023, a 27% increase over the 2022 level of US$70.2 billion, according to China’s Customs Agency. Of that total, US$61.4 billion represented Chinese exports to the region. Trade between China and Kazakhstan alone clocked […]
Read more »Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.