One Belt One Road (OBOR)
Candlefocus EditorThis project embodies the old Silk Road spirit and covers a massive scope that includes both land based routes (‘The Belt’) and a maritime route (‘The Road’). It is expected to go a long way in improving the infrastructure, transportation and logistics of the regions it covers, emphatically aiding the development of different nations.
The initiative focuses on five main areas for development such as policy coordination, infrastructure investment, trade and financing, the people’s culture and the third-party cooperation. These areas are likely to develop slowly over the years, as economic and political uncertainties persist in different regions.
Over the years, the scope of the project has expanded significantly and now includes 79 nations and 30 international organizations, with over 3,000 projects underway and plans for new projects in 29 countries. This project has already had immense success, especially in lightweight infrastructural projects like the Gwadar Port in Pakistan and the Zaranj-Delaram Highway in Afghanistan.
Furthermore, many nations have already jumped on the OBOR bandwagon and are now receiving investments and developments that have always been long overdue. Two such nations include Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, both of which have received massive aid from China in terms of local transmission projects, which have been instrumental in increasing the economic efficacy of the two nations.
In conclusion, OBOR is a renewed vision of the ancient Silk Road and aims to foster trade, communication and diplomacy between multiple nations. It has been met with a wide range of success so far and with the rapid advancements being achieved through the project, more nations are likely to join this global cooperation in the weak future.