Paper long abstract:

This presentation examines economic and political developments pertaining to China's Belt and Road Initiative vis-a-vis infrastructure investments in Central Asia. In particular, the presentation will focus on the geostrategic and economic dimension of the Great Silk Road Economic Belt that seeks to connect China via Eurasia to Europe. While China formally launched its BRI initiative in early 2017, there has been less attention focused on the infrastructure investments in Central Asia than in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Africa. Thus, because the BRI is still in its incipient phase in Central Asia, this presentation will explore the political and economic motivations establishing the Silk Road Fund, for example, to provide financial support for infrastructural and energy projects as well developments to advance "green rules" for social and environmental safeguards. Areas of interest include policy proposals for green investment as well as the extent to which the Great Silk Road Economic Belt may adhere to the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.