China takes a strategic move to step in Central Asia through Silk Road

The world’s giant economic power, China is aiming at deepening its ties and increasing its influence in Central Asia through a new project called the “Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road,” an initiative stretching from Europe to Asia.

The promotion of the project was held in Beijing on July 2 and 3 by the People’s Daily with the participation of more than 50 journalists from 11 regional countries, including Hürriyet Daily News. The ambitious project was first announced by China’s new leader Xi Jinping during a tour to Central Asian countries in September 2013.

“When we mention the Silk Road, we can’t do it without looking at history. In history, the west for China was Central Asia. And now we have all the options to open new transportation channels between the West and East, from Europe to Asia,” Liu Yunshan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China –one of seven top Politbureau members – told the visiting journalists on July 3. “The key words of this project are Silk Road and cooperation. With this spirit, we can achieve our goals,” he said through an interpreter.

“This idea is reflecting the Chinese concepts of peaceful and inclusive development. China has made much progress in development in the last decades. But we believe in development, not only for ourselves, but also for our neighbors, region and even for the whole world,” Junshan stressed, underlining “openness, innovation and reform” as the main principles of such a development boost.  

No proposal for a new organization

One of the questions raised during the meetings was whether China was aiming at...

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