Belt and Road Weekly Investor Intelligence #74

There is huge significance in Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s diplomatic visits to Islamabad, Kabul, New Delhi, and Kathmandu – we comment on all these discussions. Plus the very latest BRI and supply chain developments in the Russia-avoiding southern Belt and Road corridor.

Wang Yi’s South Asia Trip

Wang Yi in Nepal: Progress Made on Free Trade, Infrastructure Projects, and Cross-Border Energy Networks 

The outcomes of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s three-day visit to Nepal and how this will impact BRI and other China-backed projects.

China Strikes Conciliatory Tone With India As New Asian Geopolitical Alliances Begin To Emerge In Wake Of Russian Issues 

BRICS Group could become Eastern Bloc With Power To Challenge US Global Interests

China’s Foreign Minister Visits Kabul To Meet Taliban Government 

Discussed political and economic ties, including starting work in the mining sector and Afghanistan’s future role in China’s Belt and Road infrastructure initiative

Wang Yi At The Organization Of Islamic Cooperation: China Is Investing US$400 Billion In Muslim Belt And Road Initiative Projects 

The OIC bloc includes 57 states over four continents and has a collective population of 1.9 billion.

Southern Belt & Road Supply Chain Developments  

Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea Port Volumes Up 

Kazakhstan has three operating seaports, Aqtau, Bautino, and Kuryk, with trade up 5.4%.

Kazakhstan-Eurasian Economic Union Trade Up 29% In January 

Kazakhstan’s bilateral trade with other member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) – Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia reached US$1.7 billion in January 2022.

Georgia-Uzbekistan Bilateral Trade Increases 88% 

Russia avoiding southern route connects Uzbekistan to Georgia and the EU via Turkmenistan.

Armenia, Azerbaijan Being Considered For Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Observer Status 

The member-states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are actively considering the issue of obtaining observer status by Armenia and Azerbaijan, SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming has said.

China’s Belt & Road And Beyond        

All the latest international news headlines about China’s Belt & Road Initiative.

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