“All roads lead to the West” – Kommersant FM

Vladimir Putin called on the United States and Western leaders to respect the opinions of others. The President of Russia is in Beijing, where the international forum “One Belt, One Road” is taking place. Representatives of the Group of Seven do not participate in it. Meanwhile, full-format negotiations between the Russian head of state and Chinese President Xi Jinping are scheduled for October 18. Among other things, a joint statement by Moscow and Beijing on the situation in the Middle East is expected. Kommersant FM political commentator Dmitry Drize believes that the large-scale event was overshadowed due to events in Israel.

“Belt and Road” is the global expansion and leadership of China, at the same time an ambitious plan to bring all transport corridors together and flood Europe with Chinese and Asian goods, and at the same time invest money in local infrastructure with its further desired privatization. In this case, Russia is destined to play the role of a transit country, from which one can make good money.

Accordingly, official Beijing is holding a high-level forum called “One Belt, One Road.” This is an exhibition event, an opportunity for world leaders to express their high respect both to China itself and its leadership led by President Xi Jinping.

This time, the Western world, as well as India, which joined it, almost entirely refused to participate. There are some discrepancies here: earlier there was information that they were invited, but they did not come, and then Beijing stated that in fact no one was invited. At least, US President Joe Biden, precisely because of his unconstructive position.

Thus, the European continent is represented, in particular, by Hungary and Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as well as Serbia and President Aleksandar Vucic. Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan are among the main guests.

As for India, this country is also actively and aggressively developing and has developed an equally ambitious project for a transport corridor through the Middle East to Europe. Potential participants include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel. And this, as you might guess, is a direct competitor to the mentioned “One Belt and One Road”.

As for Russia, it is not difficult to assume that the situation around Ukraine is clearly not conducive to the uninterrupted transit of Chinese goods to the Old World. That is why alternative routes have appeared, including through the fraternal countries of Central Asia.

And finally, all roads lead to the West, whether anyone likes it or not. What if he refuses to buy Chinese goods? Will he build walls? Why then all these corridors? Now he probably won’t be able to do this, but in the future, who knows?

Actually, it turns out that the attention of the whole world is focused on Israel and Palestine. And so it may happen that transport corridors, silk and other routes will lose relevance at the present stage. Something else comes to replace them, something sinister. And even the expression “peaceful expansion” is becoming an anachronism. However, let’s not exaggerate. Let’s put it simply – the struggle for global leadership continues. This way it’s much more pleasant to the ear, and there’s clearly less reason to worry.

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