Publication

This paper discusses the main elements of China's new Silk Road initiative, which aims to expand communication and transport connections between China, the rest of Asia, Africa and Europe. The author also discusses 1) China's Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the goal of which is to increase investment in infrastructure in the area covered by the new Silk Road; 2) the significance of the new Silk Road for China; and 3) the implications of Beijing's project for Europe. The authors contend that while the initiative is not free of risks for the EU, the potential benefits of the project mean that European governments and societies should join in and help shape it.