About: Silk road

EXCLUSIVE: Leaked memo reveals China’s detailed plans in Italy

China plans to cooperate with Italy in the development of “roads, railways, bridges, civil aviation, ports, energy, and telecommunications” as part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, a confidential 'memorandum of understanding' obtained exclusively by EURACTIV reveals.

Kurz: Austrian EU Presidency to focus on China

During its July-December EU Presidency, Austria wants to set its own focus on China. To prepare for this, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz paid a visit to the Middle Kingdom. EURACTIV Germany reports from Vienna.

China and Europe can work together on the Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative is brand new and therefore enjoys huge potential. Yet, it will only be brought to full potential when all players come to realise its importance and take part in it, writes Zhang Ming.

Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey launch ‘Silk Road’ rail link

The leaders of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia launched an 826-km rail link connecting the three countries on 30 October, establishing a freight and passenger link between Europe and China that bypasses Russia.

Kazakh minister: Two ‘revolutionary’ stories are happening in Central Asia

Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Roman Vassilenko, sheds light on important new developments in Central Asia, little known in the EU, and on the role of his country in major international issues.

Italy jumps on the Chinese freight link bandwagon

Northern Italy and China will be linked by another cargo rail service from September. Faster than maritime shipping and cheaper than air freight, the service is set to be a boon for the fashion, food, automobile and hi-tech industries. EURACTIV’s partner Milano Finanza reports.

Is China’s Silk Road initiative at a dead end?

China’s Silk Road initiative is designed to boost economic growth across Asia and Africa through targeted infrastructure investments. But achieving the convergence needed across such different political and economic environments will be harder than Beijing had anticipated, writes Peter Wolff.

China’s ambitious Silk Road summit

In the last twenty years, the rise of China has been the most significant geopolitical and global economic development. It now faces further challenges in reforming its economy, an endeavour in which Europe can play a part, writes Fraser Cameron.

Regional integration is the ‘key’ to stabilising Afghanistan

Integrating Afghanistan into its neighbourhood should create a “win-win” situation for all the countries in the region and for the international community as a whole, writes Erlan Idrissov.