International leaders and intellectuals recently congregated on Boao Forum in China to discuss global trade and diplomacy. At the forum, China’s ambitious Belt and Road initiative drew comment and analysis from the region’s leading observers.
Announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, with the objective of building a dual trade and infrastructure network linking Asia with Europe and Africa, the Belt and Road initiative seeks to retrace and re-establish the ancient trade routes of the fabled Silk Roads.
Comprising an overland route (the Silk Road Economic Belt) and a maritime route (the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road), the realisation of this initiative would have far-reaching implications, perhaps seeing the formation of new economic blocs in the region. The China-Pakistan corridor represents just one aspect of this vision.
The former US Secretary of State, Carlos Gutierrez described the initiative as “very positive” not only for China but for all the surrounding countries that would benefit from enhanced trade and infrastructure. Alexei Chekunov, CEO of the Far East Development Fund, declared it as the most important international initiative launched by China.
With an aim towards promoting a more inclusive globalised world order, Boao Forum for Asia Secretary General, Zhou Wenzhong stated, “The Belt and Road initiative that President Xi Jinping proposed three years ago is the country’s solution to make globalisation work, with a goal to build a community of common destiny.”
The term ‘Silk Roads’ was coined in 1877 by the German geographer Frederick von Richthofen in reference to a specific East-West trade route for trans-Eurasian exchange. However, studies have increasingly established that these routes were largely informal and amorphous, yet traversed since the dawn of civilisation.
Though historically a trade network, the Silk Roads also led to the exchange of cultures, religions, scientific knowledge and innovative ideas. The enriching influence of this in the Subcontinent is evidenced by the magnificent Buddhist shrines and artifacts in Northern Pakistan and India, the traditional use of Chinese silk brocade in clothing, and the now defunct Afghan market which would display unique wares from Russia, Central Asia and China every week in Islamabad.
Moreover, the subcontinent’s deep connection to Central Asia and the wider region is illustrated through its Mughal history: the first Mughal Emperor Babar came from Ferghana to establish rule over India, founding an empire that lasted for over 300 years. The very word ‘Mughal’ derives from ‘Mongol’.
Research reveals that travels along the Silk Roads engendered extensive cross-cultural integration through commercial trade. The archaeological discoveries in China’s Xinjiang province dating back to 100 BCE attest to the intermingling of cultures stretching from China to the Mediterranean.
For centuries China’s unique ability to supply the world with vast quantities of precious silks, ceramics and spices transported along these routes drew international interest. So, China’s move to institutionalise this vast expanse of commercial and cultural interchange represents an interesting move towards an ancient past but also illustrates China’s historic role in its primacy over global consumer markets.
Though still in its nascent stages, Xi Jinping’s commitment to this bold agenda is demonstrated by the launch of the Silk Road Fund which allocated $40 billion to financing this grand project along with support from China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank with its capital of $100 billion.
In spite of the manifest challenges, the revival of a long-shared past through enhancing economic cooperation, removing trade barriers and facilitating cultural exchange would lead to a dramatic reconfiguration of regional relations, bringing together the Far East, South and Central Asia, and Europe in a far more meaningful way.
The writer is a freelance writer and the founding editor of Blue Chip magazine. She tweets @MashaalGauhar