US newspaper: Iraq may become the focus of Chinese aspirations in the Middle East

[Butifldrm]

  

Iraq .. mission station in the Silk Road          

4/16/2015 0:00 

China prepared an important partner 
 BAGHDAD - morning 
received Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward invitations to the joint construction for "economic belt of the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road-century atheist twenty-two, called the belt and the way international attention and wide. 
He Jinping during the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia that the construction of the belt and the road not closed project, but open-minded sticking to the principles of consultation and joint construction, and pay contacts about development strategies and integration advantages of the countries on the project along, pointing to the desire of more than 60 countries and organizations to participate in its construction, hello all efforts that are involved in its construction. 
A report of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China Baghdad that Iraq is an important partner of China, and a source of confidence in the Middle East, and China is keen to develop relations in accordance with the look strategy and is ready to participate actively in the economic reconstruction in all sectors, and is the Iraq mission station in the Silk Road. 
While speeding Chinese sources said in the construction of the belt and the road are making an economic boom in the states along the belt and the road and the promotion of regional economic cooperation, and in favor of strengthening the exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations and to achieve world peace and development. 
The belt and the way Ichterqan three continents of Asia, Europe and Africa For their part in the East Asian brisk economic circle For their part, and the other in Europe advanced economic circle and enjoy the many countries the vast central parties latent and active force in the economic development process. 

http://www.alsabaah.iq/ArticleShow.aspx?ID=91054

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

***///

 

China AND Iran... is Iraq getting OWNED...? 

[Rasica]

 

  

Iraq .. mission station in the Silk Road          

4/16/2015 0:00 

China prepared an important partner 

 BAGHDAD - morning 

received Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward invitations to the joint construction for "economic belt of the Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road-century atheist twenty-two, called the belt and the way international attention and wide. 

He Jinping during the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia that the construction of the belt and the road not closed project, but open-minded sticking to the principles of consultation and joint construction, and pay contacts about development strategies and integration advantages of the countries on the project along, pointing to the desire of more than 60 countries and organizations to participate in its construction, hello all efforts that are involved in its construction. 

A report of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China Baghdad that Iraq is an important partner of China, and a source of confidence in the Middle East, and China is keen to develop relations in accordance with the look strategy and is ready to participate actively in the economic reconstruction in all sectors, and is the Iraq mission station in the Silk Road. 

While speeding Chinese sources said in the construction of the belt and the road are making an economic boom in the states along the belt and the road and the promotion of regional economic cooperation, and in favor of strengthening the exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations and to achieve world peace and development. 

The belt and the way Ichterqan three continents of Asia, Europe and Africa For their part in the East Asian brisk economic circle For their part, and the other in Europe advanced economic circle and enjoy the many countries the vast central parties latent and active force in the economic development process. 

http://www.alsabaah.iq/ArticleShow.aspx?ID=91054

 

The Silk Road is going to totally destroy the West's aka; NWO intentions for Iraq. Iraq is a huge battle field between NWO controlling the M.E. and the Asian Alliance to keep the M.E. free of the Banking Cabal's control. Sunnis 'dominantly' do not want the NWO controlling their Oil/Banking policies this is why they have been committing genocide against the Sunnis for the last several years. In fact 17,073 Sunnis were killed in 2014 alone. This is insane compared to Ukraine, Palestine, Libya etc etc.  Silk Road/Turkish Stream  Iraq Signs $1B Military Agreement With Russia Iraq 17,073 Sunnis Murdered 2014 

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

***///

 

...enter The Dragons.....

 

May we live long enough to see the total destruction of the Cabal of Evil...

 

from the tips of The Crowns to the depths of The Catacombs below the Vatican

[skeetdog]

Thanks Butfldrm...The IMF is about to take the wind out of China's export/import trade sails by makin' them operate at the true value of their currency...China has their problems with extremist just as the US and every other country...People of all nationalities on a certain level want to get along....Just look how the 10% of liberals control how the world looks at the USA...when it comes down to brass tack most of the people in foreign countries that think Americans are snobs are because that's the only ones they meet...That's just because the snobs of America are the only ones that can afford to travel...It's all in perspectives.... jmho 

[yota691]

Silk Road .. From Baghdad to Beijing     Posted By editor   BAGHDAD / Economy News ...

 

Mohammed Abdul Zahra al-Hindawi

 

Silk Road, is a network of old roads that were Tzlkha trade caravans, and connects a number of Chinese provinces to other countries in Europe and the Middle even up to Iraq through Syria and Turkey have its shares this way to improve life in countries that passes through 

.. Seen Chinese to the history of silk respect and reverence because it was the source of their lives they were able through export Maldihm of products and import what they need of supplies and raw materials for industry .. this has put a special pavilion in the Chinese National Museum downtown Beijing to the Silk Road and includes this suite of paintings and photographs Collectibles and Arab and European commercial convoys and Ottoman and Persian and other day also, plates for Baghdad and cities

 Other .. 

It is believed many Chinese people that one of the reasons modern renaissance is the openness to the world via the Silk Road, they too believe in this principle of openness, because they represent a part of the global system are affected by and influence them, and that China has become a giant state in everything and did not affect the economic and political Altamlq weight population, reaching a population of one billion and 350 million humans .. Chinese influence in the global economy has become clear Beijing and become a strong player in the international political scene because it has a strong economy .. The visiting Beijing surprised to learn that the same origins of European cars filled the streets and the impact of the Chinese cars we know it, such as sherry and sisters .. When asked about the reason for this absence brings you to answer with a bow and a smile: all these cars you see are Chinese industry !! Because most specialized automobile industry international companies have opened branches in various Chinese provinces within the framework of industrial relocation policy and is working to fill the local need and export to a lot of the Middle East and European countries because of cheap labor and the availability of raw materials .. In addition, China is monopolized 60 percent of the industry Trainers in the world .. and there is no state in the land of Atstord of China, but there is a difference between what the items imported our merchants from China and between Maystorda world traders .. as Chinh authorities do not allow the circulation of any commodity in the local markets is identical to the approved specifications and exposed contrary to crack down. . and specifications of China is one of the best standards in the world .. but the problem is that the Chinese have the capabilities and enormous potential in the tradition of state commodity and industry specification that you want the recipient is Chinese, and take advantage of our merchants this property to Iotona goods and goods or the (24) hours !! Or even less than that !! So not make use of Chinese potential in the import side, but also for our right to damage from the poor quality of imported them .. for this - and here the whole point - The visit of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to China in the atheist of the month of December the past to serve as a re-opening of the Silk Road to extend this time directly from Baghdad to Beijing .. It resulted in the visit are very important results, including the al-Abadi asked the Chinese not to allow the export of any goods not conforming to specifications to Iraq and this will get rid of those (trash) that we receive from the land of dragons! .. as well as agreements and memorandums of understanding signed between the two sides in the military and oil and investment fields in various fields what gives the clear impression that the partnership strong strategy between the fat began her features clear and Iraq will be the most side benefit of this partnership, because the Chinese have put Iraq sights for many years while waiting for their chance to enter strongly per Iraqi investment environment .. It strengthens this partnership and reinforce is the need that Iraq is moving strongly towards accession to the Asian Investment Bank, which was established in China and engaged in membership of 60 countries from Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America, and means the bank to grant loans to Member States for the implementation of projects in the field of infrastructure and filling the needs of the inhabitants of these services, be sure to Iraq's accession to the membership of this bank would give him the possibility in the face of economic challenges in the investment side and investigation services in the light of the increasing steadily for the population (about 37 million people), as well as the liberation of the Iraqi economy from the pressure exerted by some international institutions .. It is certain that China and management of the fund will accept on Iraq strongly if asked to join him because of the strategic location of the Mesopotamia on the Silk Road, and of course that the conditions of access to loans from this fund will not be similar to the conditions of the International Monetary Fund, but is affordable Terms affordable related to improving the investment environment in the country in order to achieve China's industrial resettlement policy in Iraq, not to mention the development of the reality of customs facilities at border crossing points and other reforms originally involved in the government's reform policy. Bottom line is that the new Chinese - Iraqi partnership will push other Asian countries prepare themselves from tigers such as South Korea, Japan and others to reconsider the frameworks relations with Iraq and to mitigate the security concerns that prevent them from accessing strongly to the Iraqi market and the meaning of this, the new silk roads will open in horizon and the success of this policy in the index

 Government. 

  Views 15   Date Added 18/01/2016

[blueskyline]

Thank You Yota

[yota691]

China: It is important to activate the Silk Road Project to increase trade

Economy

 Since 02/14/2016 16:59 pm (Baghdad time)

 BAGHDAD - balances News

China confirmed on Sunday, on the importance of activating the silk project, which links Iraq to China and Asian and European countries, which will have important economic implications for increasing trade through.

The transport ministry said in a statement received / balances News / copy of "The Minister Baqer al-Zubaidi met with the Chinese ambassador in Iraq, Wang Yong and his accompanying delegation, and discussed with him the bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and ways of enhancing them to serve the common interests between them."

Wang pointed out during the meeting the importance of activating the Silk Road Project, which connects Iraq, China and Asian and European countries, which will have important economic implications for increasing trade exchange.

As the price of the role of al-Zubaidi in sustaining economic cooperation between the two countries especially in the field of transport within the ports and rail sectors, and the establishment of airports, especially of Imam Hussein, "GS airport."

For his part, Transport Minister of Higher his commitment to sustain cooperation with China, and praised the wise policy of the Chinese leadership in its solidarity and support to the Government and people of Iraq in the face of terrorism and promote economic cooperation with Alm.anthy 29/9 states P

[Dinarian64]

Mrs Wong and the prosperity packages are riding the Silk Road

[yota691]

Jaafari appreciates China's positions in support of Iraq

 

 

       

2/15/2016 0:00 

BAGHDAD - morning, 

the price of foreign minister, Dr. Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the positions of the People's Republic of China in support of Iraq in various fields, especially humanity. 

According to a statement issued by the press office of Foreign Minister «morning» received a copy of the »Foreign Minister met with the Chinese ambassador to Iraq, and Wang Yong on the occasion of ending his tenure in Baghdad, and were reviewed during the meeting the great development of bilateral relations between Iraq and China, and to emphasize the need for further efforts to promote it ». 

the statement added that« al-Jaafari wished the ambassador Muwafaqiya, and success in the coming diplomatic mission », praising his role in supporting the relations between Baghdad and Beijing and advance his thanks and appreciation for China's positions in support of Iraq in various fields, especially humanitarian ». 

he said al-Jaafari, according to the statement to« Iraq's desire to deepen relations and share experiences with China »he explained the statement» China's ambassador in Iraq said that he would do all his efforts in various diplomatic joints to provide more aid, and support for Iraq in its war against Daash terrorist gangs », praising the victories of Iraq achieved in the war against terrorists Daash, diplomatic and openness witnessed Iraqi relations during the past period, and given the efforts for the success of the work of the embassy in Baghdad».

[sandfly]

THANKS YOTA THINGS ARE CHANGING

[Boozer]

Slow But Moving .. Time to pick up speed ..

[yota691]

The arrival of a Chinese train to Iran as a prelude to the revival of the Silk Road railway

economy

 Since 02.16.2016 at 08:48 (Baghdad time)

Follow-up - the balance of News

We arrived for the first time a Chinese freight train station in Tehran, after a journey that lasted 14 days, as part of a test flight for the revival of the Silk Road railway.

The trip came after a tripartite agreement between Iran, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, to conduct a pilot train journey from China to Tehran station.

And cutting transit train railway Silk Road, a distance of 10,399 kilometers in 14 days, with tonnage of 32 40-foot container of commercial goods, which set out from the city, "Yiwu" station in Zhejiang province (east China).

The freight train, the first of its kind to link China, Iran and the Middle East, according to the selected program, the train from "Onata" crossing out in the area between Kiang northwest China, passing through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, all the way to Iran, which entered it through the ferns Station (northeast) In the future, it will enter through Aingh Byron Station (north-east and bordering Turkmenistan).

It is expected that China's trade level rises with Iran and the Middle East, notably with the launch of the train transit and starting commercial activities across the railroad tracks of the Silk Road. Ended 29/4 e

[gregp]

This is huge for Iran and China. Wow. That was in the works for a while.

[Dinarian64]

Great news.

On the dark side Iraq will now have an abundance of plastic cr-p that is useless after a month. Be interesting to see how much garbage starts piling up in that area. China is doing this for trade - to open another marketplace for junk made in China.

Now on the bright side it shows a lot of hope because they would not put that freight train in unless there was a market. And if it was safe from terrorist entering China.

[yota691]

Ditching the dollar: Russia, China to create new gold market

Saturday, April 16, 2016 23:11

 

 

 

While key Western banks are artificially restraining gold prices to breathe life into the diluted and devalued dollar system, Russia, China and other emerging economies are involved in “the genial move” to establish an entirely different gold market, F. William Engdahl underscores.

Key central banks, particularly the Federal Reserve and Bank of England, and Western market players have long been accused of clandestine gold price manipulating aimed at preserving the dollar’s role “as world reserve currency primus,” American-German economic researcher and historian F. William Engdahl writes.

“The COMEX gold futures market in New York and the Over-the-Counter (OTC) trades cleared through the London Bullion Market Association do set prices which are followed most widely in the world. They are also markets dominated by a handful of huge players, the six London Bullion Market Association gold clearing banks — the corrupt JP MorganChase bank; the scandal-ridden UBS bank of Zurich; The Bank of Nova Scotia — ScotiaMocatta, the world’s oldest bullion bank which began as banker to the British East India Company, the group that ran the China Opium Wars; the scandal-ridden Deutsche Bank; the scandal-ridden Barclays Bank of London; HSBC of London, the house bank of the Mexican drug cartels; and the scandal and fraud-ridden Societe Generale of Paris,” Engdahl narrated.

Furthermore, Western banks are issuing numerous paper “gold-futures” and other speculative contracts which are in fact disconnected from real physical gold.

 

In a word, operations with the precious metal in London and New York are in questionable hands, the economic researcher noted.

The West’s ultimate goal is to preserve the dollar’s monopoly in the market thus breathing life into the US-led global financial system. But no one likes monopolists.

Predictably, the current state of affairs cannot satisfy rising economies, such as China, Russia and other emerging powers.

However, “rather than scream and cry ‘fraud’ at the owners of the COMEX/CME or the London Bullion Market Association Big Six clearing banks, these countries are involved in the genial move to create an entirely different gold market, one that not JP MorganChase or HSBC or Deutsche Bank control, but one that China, Russia and others of a like mind control,” Engdahl stressed.

This new approach is connected closely with the China-led New Silk Road project and the Shanghai-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).In May 2015 Beijing announced it had established a state-run gold investment fund, aiming to bolster China’s role in global gold trade. The new initiative is a part of China’s ambitious One Belt and One Road plan. The “Silk Road Gold Fund” will invest in mining projects in the regions along the New Silk Road encouraging central banks of its members to increase their holdings in the precious metal.

“As China has expressed it, the aim is to enable the Eurasian countries along the Silk Road to increase the gold backing of their currencies. That sounds very much like some clear-thinking and far-sighted governments are thinking of creating a stable group of gold backed currencies that would facilitate orderly trade free from Washington currency wars,” the economic researcher elaborated.

And Russia is actively cooperating with China in this field, he underscored, adding that just before the creation of China’s new gold fund the countries inked a deal to explore the gold reserves in Russia’s Magadan region.Over the past several years Russia has been rapidly replenishing its vaults with golden bullions. In accordance with official data, Russian physical gold reserves currently amounted to 1250.9 tons in June 2015.

Today Russia is considered the world’s third largest gold producer with 245 metric tons produced in 2014, while China produces over 450 tons a year.

“South Africa, also a member of the BRICS along with China and Russia, stands to add to the new energy surrounding a renaissance in gold as a support of solid, well-based currencies to replace the diluted and devalued dollar system,” the researcher stressed.

According to Engdahl, the New Economic Silk Road, integrated with Russia’s new Eurasian Economic Union, are more than just energy and railroad infrastructure: they are the central nervous system of the future largest and fastest-growing economic space on Earth.Interestingly enough, according to the ANZ Research report “East to El Dorado: Asia and the Future of Gold” the gold price may soar as high as $2,000 a troy ounce by 2025. ANZ Research underscored that gold, despite its current slump, remains both an investment and a defensive asset. The rise of emerging economies, such as China and India will facilitate the demand for gold investments.

“While most eyes are fixed on COMEX or the London Bullion Market Association listed daily gold price fix, the real worth of gold as a currency reserve and a standard of monetary soundness is growing in worth by the day,” Engdahl concluded adding that this trend is a real pain in the neck of the US Treasury, Federal Reserve and Wall Street.

[Carrello]

This type of investment and plans by big, big money, will not let Maliki and his group 

interrupt forward moved such as this.  I give Maliki a week.

 

Thank you, Yota!

[yota691]

A Look At 7 New Cities Rising Along The New Silk Road

 

 

Wade Shepard

New cities are rising all along the revitalized trade routes of what has been dubbed the New Silk Road -- an enhanced network of economic corridors stretching between China and Europe -- as participating countries attempt to build new economies based on logistics, manufacturing and cross-border commerce from the ground up.

One statement that I've heard repeated over and over again as I've traveled these routes is: "X years ago there was nothing here." From the west of China to the east of Europe, new large-scale infrastructure is being built as the economic dynamics of Eurasia are undergoing a fundamental transition.

Lanzhou New Area, China

 

 

 

 

“Four years ago, all mountains,” I was told last year as I arrived in Lanzhou New Area, a new urban core 30 kilometers outside of the historic center of Lanzhou, the capital of China's western Gansu province.

Hundreds of barren, desert-ified loess mountains and hills are being removed with backhoes and dump trucks to create this completely new, 800 square kilometer development that will provide core infrastructure on the China end of the Silk Road Economic Belt. A new international airport, high-speed rail station, central business district, logistics and bonded zone, as well as high-rise apartment complexes for 500,000 people are all at various stages of completion.

The built-up portion of Lanzhou New Area. Image: Wade Shepard.

The Silk Road West International Business Tourism Culture Comprehensive Eco Industrial Zone -- a 20 square kilometer, $1.52 billion conurbation of Silk Road related projects -- is at the core of this new development. Located in this area is the Lanzhou Free Trade Park, which contains a bonded area that provides more efficient customs clearance for trucks and trains carrying cargo to Central Asia and beyond, as well as space for an industrial zone that will focus on manufacturing high-value electronics, machinery and bio-medicine. Also included in this zone is the Silk Road Cultural Heritage Expo City -- a US$500 to US$750 million exhibition and tourism center -- which provides, among other things, facilities for making “Western-China-style” movies.

Removing mountain tops in Lanzhou New Area. Image: Wade Shepard.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

 

 

 

Although it's only been a few years since the mountains started being cleared away here, some of Lanzhou New Area's developments are starting to come to life. Hundreds of 30-story high-rise apartment towers have already been built, and people have begun moving in. Banks, restaurants, and schools are opening along the main drag. The finishing touches were being put on the metro station at the time I visited at the end of last year.

Lanzhou, a city that was once a dynamic trading hub along the ancient Silk Road that has been marginalized by its remoteness in the modern era, is looking to restore its historic relevance through being one of China's overland gateways to the CIS and Europe. Lanzhou New Area is a key component of this plan, and $3.9 billion has already been dumped into its development.

Horgos/ Khorgos

A colossal epicenter of trade and logistics is emerging in the Saryesik-Atyrau desert that's about as believable as a mirage. Located right on border of China and Kazakhstan, hundreds of kilometers from any established city and a tick from the farthest point on the planet from an ocean, a new urbanization project is in the works that will not only drastically change the region but will impact how goods are shipped across continents. On the Chinese side the place is called Horgos, on the Kazakh side it's Khorgos.

“When I came here a year ago it was all sand dunes,” recalled Karl Gheysen, the CEO of the DP World-run Khorgos Gateway dry port told me in 2015. “Literally, there was nothing here.”

Like Lanzhou, Horgos/ Khorgos was once a major market town on the ancient Silk Road, serving as a transshipment hub where traders from China and Central Asia would meet to exchange goods. But when these old trade routes dried up so too did Horgos, and the city eventually dissolved into the desert.

One of the new cranes at Khorgos Gateway. Image: Khorgos Gateway.

However, both China and Kazakhstan have invested heavily into transitioning Horgos from the "middle of nowhere" to the "center of the world," and are acting in tandem to resurrected the place to serve pretty much the same role it had in antiquity: a transport hub between the markets of China, Central Asia, South Asia and Europe, albeit one for freight trains and trucks rather than caravans of camels. Dozens of new China-Europe rail lines as well as the Western Europe-Western China Highway now pass through here, as the region is starting to come back to life.

Building the new city of Horgos from the ground up. Image: Wade Shepard.

On the Chinese side of the border is the new city of Horgos, a $3.25 billion New York City-sized slab of fresh urbanization that's being built for a future population of 200,000. Hardly two years ago this city technically didn’t exist, and was little other than a border post, a village, and some lavender fields on the farthest fringe of Xinjiang.

On the Kazakhstan side is the Khorgos SEZ and dry port, which is a 5,740 hectare area devoted to the country's emerging logistics economy, which includes a new residential area for 50,000 people.

Joining the Chinese and Kazakh sides together is a shared free trade zone called the International Center for Boundary Cooperation.

A trade center at the ICBC, China and Kazakhstan's joint free trade zone. Image: Wade Shepard.

The economic impact of the Horgos/Khorgos developments is expected to be significant. Dozens of international trains are passing through the Khorgos Gateway each week, while China’s Jiangsu province has already signed a deal to invest US$600 million into a manufacturing operation in the Khorgos SEZ. HP, Toyota, DHL and Alibaba have all shown interest in opening distribution hubs there as well.

Terespol municipality, Poland

Europe, too, is building new cities along the New Silk Road. On the other side of the Central Asian gap another logistics economy is on the rise. Located right on the border of Belarus is Poland’s Terespol municipality -- a place of dry ports, free industrial zones, and residential developments that are materializing out of rolling green fields.

“We had to start everything from the beginning in this place,” Krzysztof Iwaniuk, the mayor of Terespol municipality, told me in July.

The building site for Kobylany New City in Terespol municipality of Poland. Image: Wade Shepard.

Terespol municipality is the European compliment to Khorgos, and has likewise been sparked to life by the revitalized overland transportation routes that run through it -- which include most China-Europe trains as well as the E30 expressway, which goes from Berlin to Moscow. The major new projects here include the impending 30,000 person Kobylany New City, a 40 hectare duty free and bonded zone, a massive DHL-invested logistics zone, and a free industrial zone that is near a major road shipping hub, which are in addition to the dry port at Malaszewicze, which is among the most preeminent of the entire Silk Road network.

Anaklia, Georgia

"Ten years ago this was all nothing, just cows and poor people,” Dato Kodue, the director of development of Anaklia told me during a visit in June.

Anaklia is the site of an emerging resort/ deep sea port/ free industrial zone on the Black Sea coast of Georgia that’s being completely built from the ground up. Eight years ago Russian tanks were in the streets here; the place was a war zone. Today, it’s one of the prime pieces of Georgia’s New Silk Road offerings.

Locals ride by a luxury hotel in a horse-drawn cart in a rapidly changing Anaklia. Image: Wade Shepard.

Being part of the shortest overland route between Europe and China, Georgia has gone "all in" on its logistics economy. A big part of this ambition is developing a deep sea port at Anaklia. With a US/Georgian consortium at the helm, this port and its accompanying free industrial zone is expected to eventually handle 100 million tons of cargo each year and create 8,000 jobs.

Alyat, Azerbaijan

Meanwhile in Azerbaijan, the next major Silk Road station down the line from Khorgos, a new seaport/ special economic zone combo is being built on a 400 hectare expanse of barren shrub land 70 kilometers south of Baku.

The plan for the New Port of Baku at Alyat, Azerbaijan. Image: Wade Shepard.

Aiming to be a key hub for regional supply chains and a primary node on the Silk Road network, the New Port of Baku is a fundamental part of Azerbaijan’s national strategy to break free from their reliance on oil and develop a more diverse economy that's based on transportation and trade. Located at the junction of two major overland transport corridors and right on the Caspian Sea, this new multimodal logistics hub is expected to pull in 21-25 million tons of bulk cargo and 1 million TEUs once it is fully built and put into operation.

Colombo Financial City, Sri Lanka

Perhaps surpassing even the mountain razing of Lanzhou New Town in terms of making something out of nothing, Sri Lanka's Colombo Financial City is rising up from where there was only ocean before. Being built on 269 hectares of land reclaimed from the sea, this new international business center extends out from the coastline of Sri Lanka's capital city and is the largest infrastructure project the country has ever attempted.

Colombo Financial City is back online. The land is slowly being reclaimed from the sea. Image: Wade Shepard.

Colombo Financial City is to be a place of shining skyscrapers, luxury hotels, high-end shopping malls, and marinas. Its financial center is meant to rival that of Singapore and Dubai, and will even offer its own legal regime to provide investors with more favorable economic policies than are available in broader Sri Lanka.

Like most of the projects along the New Silk Road, Colombo Financial City is an international joint venture. It is mostly being built with $1.4 billion of Chinese money, and is the single largest incident of foreign direct investment in Sri Lanka's history. Following a long dispute that had big geopolitical implications (this project attracted the ire of India), China will be given a 99 year lease on 110 hectares of the new city, while the the rest of the land will go to the Sri Lankan government.

Hambantota, Sri Lanka

Five years ago, the government of Sri Lanka began an ambitious project to convert an expanse of jungle on their southern coast into the country's number two city. Being built up around a new $1.4 billion deep sea port, Hambantota was meant to become a multi-faceted project that would contain a massive industrial zone, an LNG plant, an international airport, luxury hotels, a conference center, a cricket stadium, new highways, and modern housing, in addition to the port.

The deserted entrance of Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. Image: Wade Shepard.

To varying degrees, much of this infrastructure was built, but the results have been dubious at best. Hambantota’s Mattala International Airport has just two flights per day and is more than likely the world’s emptiest international airport, while the deep sea port is running at under-capacity, the conference center is mostly only used as a venue for wedding banquets, the cricket stadium seldom has any matches, the new highways provide efficient transportation for a severe lack of vehicles, and the much-needed industrial zone hasn't been built yet.

To build this infrastructure Sri Lanka went $8 billion into debt to China, and have reputedly been offering their donor equity for debt swaps and going as far as trying to give away the revenue-draining Mattala airport.

But while the label "white elephant" has been used by some to sum up the Hambantota venture, nobody has given up on it yet.

Conclusion

“We’re building a new Dubai,” is another common statement spoken by the architects of the New Silk Road. The hallmark of this new political and economic network can be found in its massive new infrastructure projects that are being built where there was no semblance of such infrastructure before.

The model for this style of development is without doubt the JAFZA at Jebel Ali in Dubai, which showed the world that it is possible for an entirely new, diverse, and vibrant economy to be built upon a major transportation hub. And many stations of the New Silk Road are trying to replicate its success.

[TennesseeCherokee]

Madamme Wu, Kung Fu & the all The Chinese Elders are busy wrappng all the prosperity packages with gold leaf wrapping paper & are preparing to issue the top secret 800 numbers to all those in their elite groups riding two hump camels on the silk road.

[Synopsis]

I was in Lanzhou, China in the 1990s.  Lanzhou, I was told, was built up as a central manufacturing center during WWII to support the Chinese in their war effort since Lanzhou is about as close as you can get to the geographical center of China.  Since then, Lanzhou was built up as a industrial manufacturing, refining, and chemicals production center in China.  There were several facilities that were recently brought on line and other ones planned with yet others with major expansions when I was there in the 1990s.

[Big_J]

GM DV.

[spacetuna]

On 2/17/2016 at 2:03 PM, Dinarian64 said:

Great news.

On the dark side Iraq will now have an abundance of plastic cr-p that is useless after a month. Be interesting to see how much garbage starts piling up in that area. China is doing this for trade - to open another marketplace for junk made in China.

Now on the bright side it shows a lot of hope because they would not put that freight train in unless there was a market. And if it was safe from terrorist entering China.

Dinarian64-  China is no longer going to be the producer of "plastic cr-p"...  they will be the consumer.  Countries along the Silk Road are going to be the producers of goods (primarily Viet Nam) and China is moving to a new business model more similar to the US.  The Silk Road trade route is being put in place in part so China can pass this torch onto these Countries.  China has an initiative in which they are planning to force a hundred million people that live in it's outskirts to move into the ghost cities in which it has created by the year 2020.  This mass migration will create a middle class consumer base in China. So in a nutshell, China will not be selling products to Iraq, it will be buying it's oil and natural gas to help create this massive trade infrastructure being built around the world. This is a very good thing for Iraq and for us. 

 

"The engineering of the ghost cities were a part of the National New Urbanization Plan which intends to move 100 million people from the rural population into the cities by 2020.  The intent is to increase the urban population of China by 60% and create a larger consumer class as the economy shifts away from the exporting model"

https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/10/the-urbanization-of-the-chinese-working-class/

[blueskyline]

this massive trade infrastructure.......................it truly is massive . In every country China has invested in dealing with highways , airports , seaports , trains . Billions of dollars in each country

 

Edited September 24, 2016 by blueskyline

[spacetuna]

Notice that Iraq is one of the few Countries that will benefit two fold from the Silk Road 

[yota691]

Iran is involved in China's first exhibition of the Silk Road

BEIJING / October / Arna- 28 involved Iran and a number of countries in the first World Expo of the Maritime Silk Road twenty-first century in Dong Guan City, south China.

 

The Expo is one of the most important exhibitions held by China in the framework of activating the new maritime Silk Road , the main objective of strengthening relations and trade cooperation with other countries. 
Participates Iran wings in the exhibition , which opened its doors on Thursday for a four - day, it is assumed that countries and companies involved in conducting the exhibition talks and conclude agreements on investment Pesti areas related to road Hariri sea , including the laying of roads, railways and port construction. 
According to reports issued by the authorities charged with the exhibition, the 52 countries and regions, including 39 countries located on the sea line of the silk road participated in the exhibition. 
Otherwise the Expo , there are six small shows are held in the framework of this international event is important, and stimulate these exhibitions in the cultural and tourism fields and display equipment, devices and machines. 
forecasts indicate that the Expo customers expected to rise to about 25 thousand people, is expected to reach the value of the agreements concluded during the exhibition to 30 billion dollars. 
ended ** SH ** 1369