Whenever I hear One Belt, One Road, like many others, I think of the famous ancient Silk Road which developed over many centuries, with one form of it dating back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD) and further developed in the Tang Dynasty (618- 907 AD).This reflected the period in which today’s Xi’an was the capital of China and on my regular visits to Xi’an in the last 10 years, I wondered what it would have been like to head west from there all those centuries ago. However, the term Silk Road (reflecting trade in silk, horses and other items) was only commonly used to describe that route from the 19th Century. A famous city at the Western end of the Asian continent and a city partly in Asia and partly in Europe was, and is, Istanbul in Turkey (thinking back to the Ottoman Empire), which I have also visited - but by plane. In the ancient days, ships had to be used to cross into Europe once in Istanbul, but since 1973 when the first of three bridges were … [Read more...] about Reflections on the Belt and Road Initiative
Darknet silk road
Conference provides opportunity for new paradigm
The Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations taking place in Beijing from May 15 to 16 is using open dialogue to establish a fresh set of universal values founded on the core heritage and culture of very ancient civilizations. The Silk Road historically was the economic order for thousands of years. It was a technology shift, as high-sea sailing vessels and the industrialization of arms caused overland trading routes to fall into disuse. The outcome was economic might shifting to coastal regions. A system of colonization emerged, followed by a post-colonial era that sought to maintain the status quo. Today, another technology shift — high-speed rails, smart road systems, telecommunications and 5G wireless — are changing the economic paradigm and reviving overland trading routes. China calls it the “Belt and Road.” Another way of understanding it is a new Silk Road, or even a “Cyber Silk Road.” This spring, the Second Belt and Road Forum … [Read more...] about Conference provides opportunity for new paradigm
The mark says it all
It is only natural that everyone would want their silk purchases to be stamped pure, for a guarantee on quality. Discerning silk consumers would know that one government organisation working to protect consumer interest in assessing silk to offer a mark of purity is the Central Silk Board (CSB), where its initiative Silk Mark Organisation of India, under the Ministry of Textiles offers a ‘marks card’ with its quality stamp (Silk Mark India) for the interested registered members. The Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI) has nearly 5000 members under its umbrella of weaver-clusters from all over India to have their silk labelled for purity. “Just like gold has Hallmark and Wool has Woolmark we brought in the Silk Mark to help people get 100 per cent silk that our label specifies. We guarantee only the silk, not the zari or the work that oes on a sari or fabric. It is in the interest of people’s purchases that SMOI also arranges the Silk Mark Expo, a platform to … [Read more...] about The mark says it all
From fruits to petrochemical products, China-ASEAN trade continues to boom
Video PlayerClose Durians are served at the flag-off ceremony of the first batch of Malaysian whole frozen durian to China, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, June 17, 2019. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung) The soaring exports of Malaysian durian, Philippine fruits and Cambodian rice to China are only one glimpse of the opportunities provided by a more open, robust Chinese market. by Xinhua writers Zhao Qing, Chen Jian, Lin Hao and Mao Pengfei HONG KONG, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The planting of durians has been picking up steam across Malaysia in recent years owing to an increasing demand from China, the world's largest market for this thorny and pungent "king of fruits." In June, Chinese authorities cleared whole durian fruits from Malaysia for import, as before that only pulp, paste and processed product could be sent to China. The new move further boosted the confidence of durian plantation in Malaysia, which has seen the total durian production rise to 341,000 tons in 2018 from 211,000 … [Read more...] about From fruits to petrochemical products, China-ASEAN trade continues to boom
BRI provides mutual benefit for Pacific region, China: Fijian minister
Video PlayerClose SUVA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism Premila Devi Kumar said Tuesday that the Belt and Road Initiative provides an opportunity for Fiji and the Pacific region to engage with China in a way that creates mutual benefit. Kumar made the remarks after she attended the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing earlier this month. "We believe that Fiji can learn from the Chinese government in areas, such as setting special industrial/economic zone policies and establishing zones that attracts foreign direct investments in specialized areas," Kumar said, according to a Fijian government statement on Tuesday. The minister pointed out that Fiji needed to capitalize on this initiative for the benefit of Fijians, as Fiji plans to attract foreign direct investment from China. This would in return create employment opportunities and improve the livelihood of all Fijians, she said. "We are engaging with … [Read more...] about BRI provides mutual benefit for Pacific region, China: Fijian minister