The BRI provides the wind beneath the dragon’s wings
The “Belt” part of the name is obvious. It encompasses the Central Asia trade routes that were the original Silk Road. The “Road” part of the project name seems superfluous as a road is surely the same as the Belt. However, it is a fundamental misunderstanding of the BRI and that misunderstanding continues to undermine a full appreciation of the BRI.
With China markets closed for the Spring Festival, it is a good time to consider the prospects for the Year of the Dragon. The dragon feeds on pearls of wisdom, so that is a good signal to look beyond the common areas of discussion about the Chinese economy.
From its very inception, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was derided by many observers and they have been quick to call its demise. It was launched in 2013 as the New Silk Road, but the name morphed into the Belt and Road Initiative to more accurately reflect its spread.
