Matthew Ehret
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
From April 25-27 Beijing will host a second international forum on the Belt and Road Initiative and it won’t be a small deal.
The four weeks preceding this event have seen an incredible surge of nations and institutions joining the BRI framework beginning with Italy’s Memorandum of Understanding as the first G7 nation in March, followed soon thereafter by Luxembourg and Switzerland. Weeks later, China won another victory by consolidating billions in infrastructure deals with the 16+1 Central and Eastern European Nations who have signed onto the BRI. This particular forum was especially important as it saw Greece join the alliance changing the name to the 17+1 group. Greece’s official participation in this bloc extended the group beyond its nominal “central and eastern” geographical limits and the importance of Greece- whose Port of Piraeus and emerging rail infrastructure funded by China provide a key bridge in the Maritime New Silk Road to Europe.
If that wasn’t enough, China participated in the April 9-10 International Arctic Forum in Russia whereby the first treaty was signed between Russia and China on scientific cooperation in the Arctic, and sweeping agreements were made around Chinese-Russian infrastructure development on a policy which has become known as the “Polar Silk Road”- again extending the limits of the BRI beyond its “east-west framework”. Just as the Arctic conference was ending, an unprecedented Canadian Arctic Policy Report was publicized calling for a transformation of Canada’s Arctic doctrine towards a pro-development orientation in response to the “changing geopolitical rules” initiated by Russia and China.
While China and Russia consolidated the BRI-Eurasian Economic Union treaty in June 2018, a major leap was announced towards the finalization of a China-Eurasian Economic Partnership with the Deputy Director of Eurasian Affairs Wang Kaixuan stating on April 19:
“Now it has to be endorsed by the specialized agencies. China has already completed its internal procedures. We are now waiting for our Russian counterparts, after that we can immediately start the negotiations. I believe that will happen soon,”
From April 15-16, China initiated a sweeping array of treaties with Arab countries during the 2nd Arab Forum on Reform and Development under the heading “Build the Belt and Road, Share Development and Prosperity.” The Arab nations already have over $200 billion trade with China and 18 Arab countries have signed MOUs with the BRI. China’s capacity to bring long term infrastructure to nations torn by western-funded wars and regime change is seen as a vital stabilizing influence not only to alleviate poverty and de-radicalize but also to provide a framework for genuine independence from western intrigues. Commenting on the forum, the President of Lebanon stated “The Arab countries have huge markets. We regard China as a good friend and are willing to further consolidate the relationship with China. We would like to draw the experience from China’s reform and development so as to benefit our people and seek our opportunities for development”.
Rather than embrace this new potential, western “old paradigm” forces representing the entrenched deep state have screamed and hollered against the “dangers of China and Russia threatening our democratic way of life”. Exemplifying this outlook was the Washington Post’s April 20th feature article “How Washington can beat China’s Global Influence Campaign”, calling for an “alternative to the BRI” controlled by the western elite. This plan is entirely absurd since America has not only permitted its own infrastructure and productive powers to rot for 50 years, but has created no relevant infrastructure that has benefited nations abroad during that same time frame. All that has been created under decades of IMF-World Bank lending has been debt slavery, impoverishment, and a $700 billion derivatives bubble that is ripe to explode.
Although incredible efforts were made over two years by the Five Eyes/Mueller led witch hunt to destroy the potential alliance Trump was proposing to form with Russia and China, the now published Mueller report turned out to be little more than a goose egg failing to prove any of the claims of Russian collusion. Jumping off that victory, Trump called loudly on April 5 for a conversion of vast military expenditures which only risk world war three towards a program of long term investments between Russia, China and the USA:
“Between Russia, China and us, we’re all making hundreds of billions of dollars worth of weapons, including nuclear, which is ridiculous… I think it’s much better if we all got together and didn’t make these weapons… those three countries I think can come together and stop the spending and spend on things that are more productive toward long term peace.”
Going into to this month’s BRI Forum (titled “Belt and Road Cooperation: Shaping a Brighter Shared Future”), 5000 participants, including 37 heads of state, and 100 heads of organizations will discuss the megaprojects that will give vitality to the coming century with the Chinese leadership and business community. There is no doubt that the collapse of the Trans-Atlantic banking system will be on everyone’s mind as opportunities to tie our destiny to long term projects that benefit all nations will be presented as open offers for all to join. Will the West follow Italy, and Greece’s lead by joining the BRI, or continue to party like its 2008?
BIO: Matthew J.L. Ehret is a journalist, lecturer and founder of the Canadian Patriot Review. His works have been published in Executive Intelligence Review, Global Research, Global Times, The Duran, Nexus Magazine, Los Angeles Review of Books, Veterans Today and Sott.net. Matthew has also published the book “The Time has Come for Canada to Join the New Silk Road” and three volumes of the Untold History of Canada (available on untoldhistory.canadianpatriot.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
Xinhua reports: Xi sends letter to congratulate inauguration of Belt and Road Studies Network Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-24 12:22:02|Editor: Yurou BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) — President Xi Jinping sent a letter to congratulate the inauguration of the Belt and Road Studies Network (BRSN) on Wednesday. Xi said the development of history, prosperity of civilizations and progress of humanity are closely connected with the guidance of advanced ideas. Noting that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) originates in China but belongs to the world, Xi said, the initiative has become an open and inclusive platform for international cooperation and popular global public… Read more »
Wonderful isn’t it ?.
As a Brit, strangely enough, as I Brit, I have great faith in the BRI; not only to free us all from US dominance, but to solve major and important issues from climate change to poverty all the way down.
I also have great faith in the Belt and Road. It unites Asia and Europe, even Africa is participating, and Latin America is interested as well, although this continent is so far away. It is the spirit of cordiality and cooperation that unites us all.
Russia’s part of the Belt and Road project it will stretch 2.000 kilometres from the Orenburg region on the Kazakh border to a junction of the existing Minsk-Moscow highway that runs between the Belarusian and Russian capitals. The new toll road will shorten trucking routes between cargo hubs in western China and central Europe. It will offer a faster alternative to the three main rail corridors already in operation, all of which are booming. Russia’s state development bank, Vnesheconombank (known as VEB), received a 65 billion yuan ($9.7 billion) credit line from the China Development Bank last year to fund… Read more »
PRESS TV reports: Xi and Putin speak at the conference Xi’s signature foreign policy intends to reinvent the ancient Silk Road to connect Asia to Europe and Africa through massive investments in maritime, road and rail projects — with hundreds of billions of dollars in financing from Chinese banks. “We need to encourage the full participation of more countries and companies, thus expanding the pie of common interests,” he further told the leaders who attended the three-day event. BRI brings growth to Eurasia: Putin Addressing the forum, Putin also called for a global response against protectionism, unilateral sanctions and “trade… Read more »
Xinhua reports: Xi meets Azerbaijani president Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-24 21:55:34|Editor: yan BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held from April 25 to 27 in Beijing. Azerbaijan is an important cooperative partner of China in the Eurasian region and one of the first countries to respond to and actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Xi said. China supports the development path chosen by the Azerbaijani people in accordance with their national conditions and the… Read more »
Xinhua reports: Xi meets Myanmar’s State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-24 23:17:27|Editor: yan BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Myanmar’s State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held from April 25 to 27 in Beijing. Noting the profound “Paukphaw” (fraternal) friendship between China and Myanmar, Xi said, China is willing to carry forward the traditional friendship of the two sides, increase mutually beneficial cooperation and push forward bilateral relations constantly. In light of the celebrations next year that… Read more »
Xinhua reports: Xi meets Mozambican president Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-24 15:03:50|Editor: mingmei BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Wednesday ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held from April 25 to 27 in Beijing. Xi said leaders of different countries will discuss issues of common concern including synergy of development policies, connectivity of infrastructure and sustainable development under the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits at the forum, so as to make greater contributions to promoting world economic growth and international economic… Read more »
Xinhua reports: Xi meets Ethiopian prime minister Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-24 16:40:28|Editor: mingmei BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on Wednesday ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation to be held from April 25 to 27 in Beijing. While stressing that Ethiopia is an important partner of China in Africa, Xi said both China and Ethiopia are developing countries that have relied on their own efforts to pioneer development paths that suited their own specific national conditions. Xi said China supports Ethiopia’s efforts in maintaining stability,… Read more »
Xinhua reports: Chinese president meets IMF chief Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-24 18:06:43|Editor: Yamei BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde ahead of the opening of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Xi said that China appreciates Lagarde’s active efforts to promote cooperation between the IMF and China, and her support for international cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road. “China values its sound relations with the IMF and hopes to continue to deepen cooperation between our two sides,” Xi said. Now, more and… Read more »
Thank you, Matthew, for the clear balanced writing contrasting two different approaches to infrastructure and world development.
Xinhua reports: Chinese, Chilean presidents hold talks Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-24 18:37:19|Editor: ZX BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Pinera held talks in Beijing on Wednesday ahead of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. China and Chile should take joint pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative as a new opportunity to deepen political mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation, and push the China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, Xi said. Xi said the two countries should promote the upgrading of bilateral trade and investment, and strengthen cooperation in… Read more »
WILL YOU JUST WRITE A BLOODY LIST OF COUNTRIES PLEASE >……it is taking me hours to read.
No offence intended.
The list of countries is not enough. Each country has a special relationship with China, and this is expressed very well in the texts by XINHUA. I believe, we should all read more DURAN, XINHUA, TASS and RT. No offence intended here, either.
RT – every morning, the first for me, then some daily in the UK, then here I get the important and more in-depth views.
For me it is first TASS in Russia, then as ‘contrast programme’ the Moscow Times, third the DURAN, fourth PRESS TV in Iran, fifth XINHUA in China, and sometimes TELESUR in Latin America. I love reading the news in six different versions.
I am giving up now because I cannot name 150 countries, which are taking part in the Conference: Over 150 countries, organizations to participate in One Belt One Road initiative Business & Economy April 26, 7:09 UTC+3 BEIJING, April 26. /TASS/. Over 150 countries and international organizations are taking part in China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday. “As of now, over 150 countries and international organizations have signed agreements with China on joint implementation of the One Belt One Road initiative,” Xi said at the opening ceremony of the One Belt One… Read more »
Fair play. Have you looked at “New Eastern Outlook” ….. that was one I missed above, apologies.
Also, I beg you to read 3 articles on Breibart and then make comments honestly …see what the reactions are; when I do it, I dont know if the replies are amusing or terrifying (due to ignorance, stupidity & brainwashing) to be honest. There are a few good, knowledge people on there, but they are in a small minority.
Al, thank you for the recommendations.
I read Breitbart for a while but gave it up again when I saw the polemics against the Venezuelan Government of President Nicolas Maduro. That turned me off.
I do not know “New Eastern Outlook”.
In general, I try to read more Russian news in RUSSIAN because I am studying the Russian language. I need to get practice. For that reason I also listen to the Kremlin videos with President Vladimir Putin speaking Russian.
https://journal-neo.org/
South Front – for news on Syria.
Russian Insider…
Good luck, the first does not have a comments section directly on site, but the last two are very good (English though).
Impressed about the Russia language, on Russian Insider, there will be other Russian speakers (few and far between).
I like the Syrian Arab News Agency for news about Syria; Press TV (Iran) also covers it quite extensively.
Xinhua reports: Xi meets Serbian president Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-25 13:51:04|Editor: Xiang Bo BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Serbia in 2016, bilateral cooperation in various fields has been advancing steadily, political mutual trust has been strengthened, and both sides have firmly supported each other’s core interests, Xi said. “Serbia is an important country in jointly building the Belt and Road, and the two sides… Read more »
Xinhua reports: Xi meets Kenyan president Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-25 15:01:42|Editor: mingmei BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. This was the third meeting between the two leaders in less than a year, which Xi said underscored the strategic and high-level relations between China and Kenya. Xi said China appreciates Kenyatta’s public refutation of groundless accusations on China-Kenya and China-Africa cooperation on many occasions. China is willing to work with Kenya to maintain the good momentum of… Read more »
China welcomes Putin’s visit to Beijing World April 25, 11:01 UTC+3 The Russian president will arrive in Beijing later in the day BEIJING, April 25. /TASS/. The Chinese government welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Beijing and his participation in the second One Belt One Road international forum, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang said on Thursday. “China welcomes the visit of President Vladimir Putin who will take part in the second One Belt One Road international forum. Chinese President Xi Jinping and a number of the country’s top officials will meet with the Russian leader,” he said at… Read more »
Putin says Russian-Chinese relations at their highest, will develop steadily Russian Politics & Diplomacy April 25, 7:49 UTC+3 According to the Russian leader, bilateral military and defense cooperation demonstrates the high level of trust in bilateral relations MOSCOW, April 25. /TASS/. The ties between Russia and China are at their highest point in the entire 70-year history of diplomatic relations and will continue to develop steadily, Russian President Vladimir Putin told China’s Renmin Ribao newspaper ahead of his visit to the country. “It won’t be an exaggeration to say that our countries have approached the [70 th] anniversary [of diplomatic… Read more »
Typical commies, uniting against the modern capitalist, rich and sane World…..MAGA – USA, USA, USA…
We shall kick your arse commie, we are the richest Country in the World…..blah blah
#…………………………………………………………#
LOL- Sorry, sometimes I pretend to be from over in the exceptional USA, USA, USA.
I like “commie” countries: China, Cuba, North Korea – and of course RUSSIA, although it is not very “commie” any more.
Communism suppresses innovation, unless it follows China’s path…then it’s basically communism in name only.
It is brutal and reckless capitalism that I see endangering our way of life – never mind “democracy” which hasn’t been around for quite a while.
A working capitalist system gravitates to perfect competition, which is manna to democracy. A dysfunctional capitalist system gravitates to monopoly, which is anathema to democracy, since it allows the political system to be subverted and corrupted by those holding the monopoly, or near monopoly. It’s a yin-yang thing.
I do not think that “democracy” really exists. It is a hoax, pulling wool over people’s eyes. The socalled “western democracies” are the most brutal dictatorships I know, both mentally and physically.
Xinhua reports: Xi meets Philippine president Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-25 18:40:14|Editor: Lu Hui BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with his Philippine counterpart Rodrigo Duterte, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Xi said bilateral relations had achieved positive turnaround, consolidation and elevation over the past three years, and had entered a new stage of development. Facts have proven that maintaining good-neighborliness and friendship between China and the Philippines keeps abreast of the historical trend, conforms with the peoples’ expectation, and is the only right option, Xi said.… Read more »
Xinhua reports: Xi meets Egyptian president Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-25 23:30:31|Editor: yan BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. As Egypt is the rotating chair of the African Union, President Sisi’s attendance at the forum not only reflected Egypt’s sincere involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), but also represented the common wish of African countries for win-win progress and common development, Xi said. Xi called on the two sides to strengthen political mutual trust, and… Read more »
Xinhua reports: Xi meets Hungarian prime minister Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-25 21:07:25|Editor: yan BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Noting China and Hungary established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2017, Xi said that the bilateral relations have entered a new historical stage. This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and China looks forward to working with Hungary to push forward the comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height, Xi… Read more »
Xinhua reports: Xi meets Uzbek president Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-25 16:07:38|Editor: Lu Hui BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Xi highlighted mutual trust and fast and unceasing development in China-Uzbekistan relations, saying China sees Uzbekistan as an important strategic partner. China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to achieve common development and prosperity, and commit themselves to peace and stability in Central Asia, he added. Uzbekistan was a key intersection of the ancient Silk Road in… Read more »
Xinhua reports: Xi meets Vietnamese PM Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-25 16:38:11|Editor: mingmei BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Noting that China and Vietnam are a community of shared future with strategic significance, Xi called for joint efforts in writing a new chapter in developing the comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries. Both sides should leverage the role of the exchange mechanism between the two ruling parties to learn from each other on party… Read more »
Xinhua reports: Xi meets Belarusian president Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-25 21:33:03|Editor: yan BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Noting that China and Belarus are all-weather friends, Xi said the China-Belarus comprehensive strategic partnership, featuring mutual trust and win-win cooperation, has been at a high level in recent years. The two countries have made fruitful achievements in jointly building the Belt and Road, with the China-Belarus industrial park becoming a model project, he said, adding that the… Read more »
Xinhua reports: Chinese, Mongolian presidents hold talks Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-25 18:40:15|Editor: yan BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday held talks with his Mongolian counterpart Khaltmaa Battulga, who is here on a state visit to China and to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. China will uphold the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and continue to actively support Mongolia’s economic development and improvement of people’s livelihood, Xi said. China and Mongolia should head towards the correct political direction, and make comprehensive plans to promote all-round cooperation as strategic partners… Read more »
Xinhua reports: Xi meets Cypriot president Source: Xinhua| 2019-04-25 21:02:21|Editor: yan BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. China and Cyprus have set an example of equal treatment and mutually beneficial cooperation between big and small countries in the international community, Xi said. The two sides should continue to support each other’s core interests and major concerns and expand areas of bilateral cooperation, Xi said. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Cyprus in port,… Read more »
China is a juggernaut. Trump’s crew are mere dogs barking at passing caravans on the silk road.
Yes! Let the caravan pass!
President Vladimir Putin receives honorary doctorate from Xinhua university during his stay in Beijing for the Road and Belt Conference: