International Relations Researches

International Relations Researches

The Fifth Generation of China Leaders and the Silk Road Economic Belt Initiative

Author
Seyed Masoud Mousavi Shafaee
Faculty Member Tarbiat Modarres University
Abstract
China has been adopted a peaceful rise strategy in the past three decades to decrease concerns and sensitivities of other great powers in regards with China rise. But it seems that China since 2012, when Xi Jinping (as symbol/representative of the fifth generation of China leaders) took power, considers itself in such a level of capabilities, to play a much more active/dynamic role in regional and international affairs. The aim of this new active/dynamic China is getting more shares in strategic arenas, redefining itself in the context of Chinese dream, revival of its National Power and finally promoting international status of China as an established multidimensional (economic, cultural, political, strategic) great power. Based on this strategy China has started several economic ↔ strategic initiatives in regional and international levels, including: active contribution in BRICS, Establishing Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and BRICS bank, promoting role of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and of course Silk Road Economic Belt or SREB (known as China Marshall Plan). This Article tries to show the economic↔ strategic root causes of SREB initiative, the political will of China's leaders to fulfillment the initiative and finally practical evaluation and explaining implications of the SREB
Keywords
China
Silk Road
Central Asia
Emerging Powers
Transportation
Energy
Berke, Robert (June 11, 2015) “New Silk Road Could Open up Massive Investment Opportunities”, OILPRICE.com.
Center for China in the World Economy (CCWE), (May 20, 2014), "Silk Road Economic Belt: Prospects and Policy Recommendations",Tsinghua University.
 Chen, Dingding (April 9, 2015), "Towards China’s Great Power Diplomacy”, Policy Paper, PISM Bulletin. No.9
The Economist (Nov 15th 2014), "The New Silk Road; Hardly an Oasis",
Hongzgou, Zhang & Guschin, Arthur, (April 24, 2015), "China's Silk Road Economic Belt: Geopolitical Challenges in Central Asia", RSIS, No.099.
Kennedy, Scott & Parker, David A. (April 13, 2015), "Building China's One Belt, One Road, CSIS.
Kourmanova Aitolkyn and Kuchins, Andrew C. (April 14, 2015), "A Vision for Shared Prosperity in Central Asia", CSIS.
Leung, Michelle (June 25, 2015),  “ASEAN and Central Asian Cement Markets Show Promise of Growth”, Bloomberg.
McBride, James,(May 25, 2015), "Building the New Silk Road", Council on Foreign Relations.
Mingjiang, Li (March 11, 2015), "China's One Belt, One Road Initiative: New Round of Opening up", RSIS, No. 050
Orlik, Tom and Chen, Fielding, (June 4, 2015),  "One Belt, One Road; China's Modern Marco Polos Bring No Novelties Westward", Bloomberg Brief.
Rolland, Nadege, (Feb 12, 2015), “China's New Silk Road”, The National Bureau of Asian Research.
Scobell, Andrew , Ratner, Ely,  Beckley, Michael (2015),  "China's Strategy Toward South and Central Asia; An Empty Fortress" (Research Report), RAND CORPORATION.
 Swaine, Michael D. , (2015), “Chinese Views and Commentary on the ‘One Belt, One Road’ Initiative,” China Leadership Monitor, No. 47
"Vision and Actions on Jointly  Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road", Issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, 2015/3/31
Xiguang, Li (13-3-2015), "The Silk Road Economic Belt and the Islamic World", NIHAO-SALAM.
Yan, Shaohua (April 9, 2015), "Why the One Belt, One Road Initiative Matters for the EU", THE DIPLOMAT.
Ze, Shi, (5/20/2015),  "One Belt, One Road and New Thinking with Regards to Concepts and Practice", www.newparadigm.schillerinstitute.com,
Zhiping, Pan (18/9/2014),  “Silk Road Economic Belt: A Dynamic Concept for Geopolitics in Central Asia”, China Institute of International Studies (CIIS).
Zhu, Yi, (June 25, 2015),  “Chinese Steel Capacity May Go West with One Belt, One Road”, Bloomberg.
International Relations Researches
Volume 5, Issue 17
Winter 2016
Pages 201-222