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Thread: Watching Eurasia and the New Silk Road / One Belt One Road (OBOR)

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    Default Re: Watching Eurasia and the New Silk Road / One Belt One Road (OBOR)

    Well, this is a very interesting development: joint Chinese- Saudi Arabian naval exercises!

    Quote China, Saudi embark on joint naval exercise
    November 20, 2019 3:38 PM


    Chinese media report the exercise will last 3 weeks. (AFP pic)

    BEIJING: China and Saudi Arabia have begun a three-week joint naval exercise, Chinese state media said on Tuesday evening.

    The joint exercise at a Saudi Arabian naval base comes as tensions in the Gulf have risen over recent attacks on oil tankers and a major assault on Saudi energy facilities.

    Beijing maintains close ties with Saudi Arabia, which is China’s top oil supplier to date, but it has also sought to strengthen ties with rival Iran in a delicate balancing act.

    Chinese state media reports said the joint exercise was designed to build trust between the two sides to combat maritime terrorism and piracy.
    https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/ca...aval-exercise/
    *I have loved the stars too dearly to be fearful of the night*

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  3. Link to Post #42
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    Default Re: Watching Eurasia and the New Silk Road / One Belt One Road (OBOR)

    History and projections about Chinese-US relations, as viewed by Henry Kissinger:



    (28 minute video)
    *I have loved the stars too dearly to be fearful of the night*

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    Default Re: Watching Eurasia and the New Silk Road / One Belt One Road (OBOR)

    The first freight train on a rail route of the new Silk Road has arrived in Ankara, Turkey (and departed onwards for its destination in Prague, Czech Republic):

    Quote First train from China to Europe makes ‘Silk Railway’ dream come true in Turkey
    November 7, 2019

    DAILY SABAH


    China Express Railway freight train was hailed and sent off to its final destination to Prague, Ankara, Nov. 6, 2019. (AA Photo)

    The countries in the Middle Corridor of China’s Belt and Road project celebrated a milestone in global trade on Wednesday as they hailed the arrival of a Chinese freight train in Turkey, signaling the full integration of the ‘Silk Railway’ dream

    Turkey and the world witnessed a historic moment on Wednesday as Ankara welcomed and sent off the first train that departed China and for Europe passing below the Bosphorus via Istanbul’s Marmaray tunnel for the first time, marking the realization of the “Silk Railway” dream.

    China’s Railway Express will directly connect Czech Republic’s Prague to Xian, the capital city of Shaanxi Province in central China, via Turkey.

    The real Silk Road was an active trade route used between the 2 B.C. and the 18th century that connected China and Europe through Anatolia and the Mediterranean region.

    Within the scope of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to connect Asia, Africa and Europe via roads and sea lanes, the railway will reduce freight transportation time between China and Turkey from one month to 12 days thanks to the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line, while the whole route between the Far East and Western Europe will take 18 days with the integration of the Marmaray tunnel, said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Cahit Turhan at the welcoming and sendoff ceremony at the historic Ankara Train Station on Wednesday.

    “Considering the $21-trillion trade volume between Asia and Europe, the importance of the issue will be easily understood. The Iron Silk Road line, which benefits a population of nearly 5 billion and 60 countries, has become a new and a very important alternative for the global commercial network,” Turhan stressed.

    The minister pointed to the geostrategic and geopolitical importance of Turkey, which connects three continents to each other. Turkey, which is an Asian, European, Balkan, Caucasus, Middle East, Mediterranean and Black Sea country with its geographic location and historical and cultural continuity, holds an important role in the economic and social development of the geographies, Turhan stressed.

    The first freight train from China entered Turkey via the eastern province of Kars on Sunday, Nov. 3 after traveled through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia. It then passed through the Turkish towns and cities of Ahılkelek, Kars, Erzurum, Erzincan, Sivas, Kayseri, Kırıkkale, Ankara, Eskişehir, Kocaeli, Istanbul’s Marmaray tunnel and Kapıkule in Edirne.

    Turhan emphasized that the country established uninterrupted and high-quality transportation infrastructures between continents by establishing a wide variety of transport links as well as corridors in recent years to further strengthen Turkey’s current position.

    “With an investment of nearly $754 billion, we have strengthened our transportation and communication infrastructure and completion of the missing links on international transportation routes was among our priorities,” the minister underscored.

    On the basis of cooperation between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia within the scope of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line established a freight and passenger link between Europe and China and was launched in October 2017.

    Providing the shortest rail link between Europe and Asia, the BTK plays an important role in the implementation of the initiative.

    Turhan said China Railway Express, which made its first trip via the BTK line has given new direction to the global rail transportation.

    With the said line, the minister stressed Turkey has become the most important connecting point of the Middle Corridor stretching from Beijing to London and the Iron Silk Road that extends from Kazakhstan to Turkey.

    The minister said that the China Railway Express, carrying a freight of electronic goods equal to the load of 42 trucks, will make 11,483 kilometers in 12 days, starting from Xian in China and passing through two continents and seas and 10 countries with 820-meter-long 42 containers.

    Carrying the freight through Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and Marmaray saves time and energy compared to other corridors. “This is a historic moment for global and regional trade. This train symbolizes the beginning of a new era in railway transportation,” Turhan remarked.

    NEW COOPERATION ON HORIZON

    Kazakhstan National Railway Head Sauat Mynbaev also remarked that the project reinforces the connection between Asia and Europe and stressed that the “One Belt, One Road” project will result in further development of freight transportation.

    Azerbaijan’s Deputy Economy Minister Niyazi Seferov also pointed out that the China Railway Express is the first train to cross under the Istanbul strait. “The train will contribute to the friendly dialogue among the countries through which it passes,” Seferov said.

    Shaanxi Regional Party Committee Secretary Hu Heping also emphasized that the Chinese freight train contributes to enhancing the economic and commercial dialogue among Eurasian countries. “I believe that the train will expand cooperation among the regional countries,” he remarked.

    Turkish State Railways Transportation, ADY Konteyner, Georgia Railways Logistics Terminals, KTZ Express Pacific Eurasia, Xian International Trade and Logistics Park and Xian Intercontinental Bridge International Logistics, signed a protocol on the quality development of the Trans-Caspian route of the China Railways Express.
    From: https://www.yerepouni-news.com/2019/...rue-in-turkey/
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    Default Re: Watching Eurasia and the New Silk Road / One Belt One Road (OBOR)

    Quote Posted by Cara (here)
    Quote First train from China to Europe makes ‘Silk Railway’ dream come true in Turkey
    November 7, 2019

    DAILY SABAH

    --- snip ---

    Within the scope of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to connect Asia, Africa and Europe via roads and sea lanes, the railway will reduce freight transportation time between China and Turkey from one month to 12 days thanks to the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line, while the whole route between the Far East and Western Europe will take 18 days with the integration of the Marmaray tunnel, said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Cahit Turhan at the welcoming and sendoff ceremony at the historic Ankara Train Station on Wednesday.

    --- snip ---
    From: https://www.yerepouni-news.com/2019/...rue-in-turkey/
    Here is a map, depicting the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line:

    Quote Turkey opens rail link for new Silk Road

    October 31 2017, 12:01 am, The Times

    A railway line connecting Turkey and Azerbaijan opened yesterday, a key stage on a new trade route between Europe and Asia.

    The 525-mile Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project will halve the time it takes to move goods from China to Turkey and is a crucial part of China’s One Belt One Road infrastructure initiative to modernise Eurasian transport routes and thus reshape global trade. The line will bypass Russia.


    --- snip ---
    https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/t...asia-dghzslks8
    Last edited by silvanelf; 26th November 2019 at 19:14.

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    Default Re: Watching Eurasia and the New Silk Road / One Belt One Road (OBOR)

    A neat summary of China’s export footprint which has unseated the US dominance in less than a decade:



    Quote Zeeshan Mhaskar
    @MhaskarChief
    2000 vs 2019

    US and China sphere of influence. This is what the trade war is all about

    *I have loved the stars too dearly to be fearful of the night*

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    Default Re: Watching Eurasia and the New Silk Road / One Belt One Road (OBOR)

    The new pipeline between Russia and China, the Power of Siberia, has begun gas deliveries



    Quote Russia starts deliveries of gas to China via Power of Siberia pipeline

    The official opening ceremony was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping via a TV link-up


    © REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

    MOSCOW, December 2. /TASS/. Russia has started gas supplies to China via the Power of Siberia pipeline on Monday. The official opening ceremony was held on Monday and was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping via a TV link-up.

    Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller welcomed the two leaders from the Atamanskaya compressor station on the border with China.

    "Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, allow me to give a command to open the pipeline valve," Miller said addressing to President Putin.

    On receiving Putin’s permission, the head of Gazprom said: "Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, dear Xi Jinping, the valve has been open. Gas is flowing to the gas transmission system of the People’s Republic of China."

    Initially, the opening of the pipeline was planned for December 20 but the construction was completed ahead of schedule.

    Power of Siberia

    The gas pipeline’s total length is about 3,000 km. Its capacity is 61 bln cubic meters of gas per year, including 38 billion cubic meters for export. The route of the gas transmission system is along the operating East Siberia - Pacific Ocean main oil pipeline, making possible to optimize infrastructure and power supply costs.

    Chayanda and Kovykta gas fields with reserves of 1.2 trillion and 2.7 trillion cubic meters of gas respectively are the resource base for the Power of Siberia gas pipeline. Development of the Chayanda’s gas pool started in 2015. The design production on the field is planned as 25 bln cubic meters of gas annually. Production on the Kovykta field will start after 2022. Its production will also be 25 bln cubic meters of gas per year.

    The ‘eastern route’ agreement (from Blagoveshchensk to China) was signed with CNPC on May 21, 2014. The total price of the contract on annual supplies of 38 billion cubic meters of gas to China amounted to $400 bln.
    From: https://tass.com/economy/1094685
    *I have loved the stars too dearly to be fearful of the night*

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