Events

Trade and Globalisation

The Belt and Road
16 Oct 2017 09:30 - 18:00
Bron: Wikimedia Commons
Inleiding

China’s flagship initiative and its implications for the global economy

This conference is organised by Chatham House. China expert Frans-Paul van der Putten is one of the guest speakers.
Please click here for further details on programme and registration. 

In the lead-up to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in autumn 2017, the inaugural Chatham House ‘Belt and Road’ conference will assess the current shape and form of China’s flagship initiative to strengthen physical, economic and financial connectivity between China and countries in Asia, as well as with Europe and Africa, in the context of current geopolitical and economic trends.

Announced in 2013, the ‘Belt and Road’ remains broadly defined as a reference framework to develop more specific ad hoc policy initiatives, with the over-arching ambition that it will help to ‘realize diversified, independent, balanced and sustainable development’. It supports investment into a wide variety of infrastructure, including road, rail, port, energy and air traffic projects, and channels financial and non-financial resources into the ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’, the ancient Silk Road that linked China to Europe, and into the ‘21st Century Maritime Silk Road’, a network of maritime trade routes that connect South and Southeast Asia to Africa and Europe.

This conference will examine the evolving framework of the ‘Belt and Road’ including political and strategic considerations for its future, what it means for countries in its intended sphere, and the role of governments, international institutions, developers and investors in realizing its potential.Discussions will address topics including:

  • ‘Belt and Road’ in the context of China’s geo-economic priorities and global political developments;
  • Regulatory, financial stability and governance issues for the ‘Belt and Road’;
  • Developing large-scale, sustainable infrastructure projects, mobilizing investment and enabling technology transfers;
  • Innovation in project finance in terms of instruments, currencies and markets.

    This conference is held under the Chatham House Rule.