Weekly News Roundup: Dispatches from the Silk Road Economic Belt

Chinese Ship Opens New Trade Route Via Pakistani Port
Pakistan's top civilian and military leaders traveled to the country's southwest on Sunday to open a new international trade route by seeing off a Chinese ship that's exporting goods to the Middle East and Africa from the newly built Gwadar port. The first convoy of Chinese trucks carrying goods for sale abroad has arrived in Pakistan amid tight security using a road linking Gwadar to China's northwestern Xinjiang region, the government said in a statement. (Bloomberg)

CPEC takes a step forward as violence surges in Balochistan
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project reached an important milestone onNovember 13 when cargo from China that was trucked down via the corridor was loaded on to ships at Gwadar port. The ships have since headed off to markets in West Asia and AfricaThis is the first time that trade activity has taken place through CPEC. On Saturday, even as three convoys of trucks converged at the Baloch capital of Quetta en route to Gwadar port, a powerful bomb blast ripped through a Sufi shrine in Balochistan’s Khuzdar district, killing at least 52 people and injuring 102 others. The explosion at the Shah Noorani shrine is believed to be the handiwork of the Islamic State (IS) group, which has claimed responsibility for the attack.(Asia Times)

What Does China’s One Belt, One Road Project Mean For Central Asia?

China’s massive One Belt, One Road (OBOR) project aims to connect the world like never before, using land and sea routes to form trade links across Asia and Europe and down to Africa. It’s an extremely ambitious project that will take many years to realize but already OBOR has many people excited about the economic possibilities to come. Among the billions of people who could benefit immensely from OBOR are the roughly 65 million residents of Central Asia. But being part of OBOR is not necessarily a guarantee for a better future. In February this year, the first cargo train from China arrived in Iran after passing through Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan along new railways in the latter two countries. In September, the first train from China to Afghanistan arrived after crossing through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.(Rfl)

Iran inks China military pact while mulling $10 billion Russian arms deal

In another move to bolster the Islamic Republic's military apparatus on Monday, Iran and China signed a deal to enhance cooperation between the two nations. The military agreement between Tehran and Beijing entails increased bilateral training coordination and closer alignment on what the Iranian regime sees as regional security issues. The move represents an “upgrade in long-term military and defense cooperation with China,” Iran's Tasnim New quoted Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan as saying in Tehran alongside his Chinese counterpart, General Chang Wanquan. (The Jerusalem Post)

China shifts gears on building ties with international bodies

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on 15 November concluded its week-long Eurasian trip with a series of proposals to promote regional cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries as well as among members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Li's proposals mark China's efforts to inject new impetus into regional cooperation, showing the importance China attaches to the role of regional mechanisms as well as its determination to enhance cooperation and safeguard regional peace and stability. Xinhua

The great bargain between Russia and China for Central Asia

With growing domestic economic stagnation in Russia, in the long-term China could still challenge Moscow’s monopoly as a main security guarantor and may gradually increase direct engagement with Central Asian states in military and security spheres. Consequently, this could lead towards a more assertive Chinese policy, where Beijing will frame its own security agenda in the region, rather than following Moscow’s steps. This is particularly important as Chinese investment and capital in the region increases, indicating that China will need to protect its interests.(China in Eurasia)

Chinese language school opens in Kyrgyz capital

A Chinese language school named "Bilim Export" founded by Kyrgyz people who were educated in China has opened here in Kyrgyzstan's capital, one of the founders and the director of the school Daniar Abdykadyrov told Xinhua on 16 November. "I studied in China for two years to receive my master's degree and after graduation, for three years I worked at the same university," Abdykadyrov said. "Therefore I always wanted to open a local Chinese school in which Kyrgyz students can receive quality education like in China," he said. Xinhua

China and CEE Countries Push for Broader Economic Cooperation in Riga

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang’s historic visit to Riga, Latvia, on November 4, marked the opening of a new chapter in relations between Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). During his three-day visit, Li met together with the heads of governments of 16 CEE countries. The summit resulted in a string of far-reaching economic agreements. Notably, officials signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the Silk Road economic zone and the 21stCentury Maritime Silk Road initiative. MoUs were also signed regarding cooperation between Chinese and CEE think tanks, on the promotion of cooperation in the field of tourism, as well as cooperation between small- and medium-sized enterprises (Lsm.lv, November 5). (Jamestown Foundation)

Fed up with EU, Erdogan says Turkey could join Shanghai bloc
President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted on Sunday as saying that Turkey did not need to join the European Union "at all costs" and could instead become part of a security bloc dominated by China, Russia and Central Asian nations. NATO member Turkey's prospects of joining the EU look more remote than ever after 11 years of negotiations. European leaders have been critical of its record on democratic freedoms, while Ankara has grown increasingly exasperated by what it sees as Western condescension. (Reuters)


China says would consider Turkey membership of security bloc
China is willing to consider any application from NATO-member Turkey to join a Russian and Chinese-led security bloc, China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday, after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said his country could join. (Reuters)

Russia, China Would Like to See Turkey in SCO if It Freezes Links With NATO

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested that Turkey could become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a Eurasian security and economic bloc led by Russia and China, but Dr. Emre Ersen told Radio Sputnik that Ankara will firstly have to minimize its relations with NATO to be considered. (Sputnik)

Tianjin FTZ launches China-Europe freight train
A freight train departed a pilot economic zone in the northern coastal city of Tianjin for the first time Monday morning. Loaded with 104 containers of construction materials, it is the first China-Europe freight train to leave the Tianjin Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ), and is set to arrive in Minsk, capital of Belarus, around December 4. (Xinhua)