On April 21, 2019, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan made a historic visit to Iran and met with President Hassan Rouhani and pledged to support the BRI.
New ties between the CPEC and Iran
NEOM and the BRI
Saudi’s NEOM may become a hub for the Belt and Road Initiative.
DP World suing China Merchants: a sign of good health for the BRI?
Emirati group DP World filed a lawsuit against China Merchants Port Holdings in the High Court of Hong Kong.
The BRI at 2019 Munich Security Conference
From 15 to 17 February 2019 was held the 55th Munich Security Conference. Over the years, this event has become a major meeting place for leaders from around the world who can discuss global issues related to security and defense.
Gwadar, betting on globalization
In early 2019, several states in Middle East announced their interest in the port of Gwadar in Pakistan. The port of Gwadar is the flagship project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). With the opening of the CECP to the rest of the world, the port of Gwadar is likely to become a major hub connecting China, South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
The UAE, the financial and trade center of the BRI
On his way to Africa, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a stopover in the United Arab Emirates, where he met with the Emirates leaders.
China-Oman BRI MoU
On May 15, 2018, China and Oman signed a memorandum of understanding on the BRI. Thanks to this agreement, Oman is committed to participating in the realization of the new Silk Roads.
The new Silk Road and Iran
US withdrawal from this agreement may have several consequences on relations between China and Iran and the development of the new Silk Roads.
Free trade zones along the BRI
On April 30 and May 1, 2018, was held in Dubai, the fourth international conference of the WFZO (World Organization of Free Zones) gathering near 200 attendees from all continents. This conference was preceded by special workshops including one dedicated to the new Silk Roads.
Gulf states’ interest in the Belt and Road Initiative
In August 2017, several initiatives took place in the Persian Gulf that illustrated regional interest in the BRI. Dubai-based Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University organized a round table on Islamic finance and the Belt and Road initiative. This event brought