The Silk Road Economic Belt: Security implications and EU–China cooperation prospects

The Silk Road Economic Belt (the ‘Belt’) component of the Belt and Road Initiative, announced by President Xi Jinping over three years ago, represents an ambitious Chinese vision to promote infrastructural development and connectivity, and stimulate economic integration across the Eurasian continent. Why has China initiated it? What are its strategic implications? How will its implementation interact with local security dynamics in states with which China is partnering?

This report, the culmination of a one-year research project over the course of 2016, explores these important questions. It provides a comprehensive review of how China’s Belt initiative may affect the strategic landscape, specifically in Central and South Asia, as well as how EU policymakers should best engage with it. The project was undertaken in cooperation with and funded by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES).

Watch the event live below or on SIPRI's YouTube channel.

Programme: Coffee will be served at 16.30; discussion will begin at 17.00 and be followed by a Q&A with the audience

Introductory remarks

Mr Christian Krell, Director, FES Nordic office

Panellists:

Dr Lora Saalman, Programme Director, SIPRI China and Global Security Programme  

Richard Ghiasy, Researcher, SIPRI China and Global Security Programme

Jiayi Zhou, Researcher, SIPRI China and Global Security Programme

Moderator

Dan Smith, SIPRI Director