The Great Game Changer: Belt and Road Intiative (BRI; OBOR)

[TaiShang]

China's export hub opens regular cargo train to Europe
Xinhua, April 15, 2016

Carrying furniture, home appliances and machinery, the first train of the first regular railway freight service linking Guangdong Province and Germany waits for departure in Dongguan on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua]

China on Thursday launched its first regular freight train service linking its southern province of Guangdong and Germany.

The first train, carrying furniture, home appliances and machinery, left Dongguan on Thursday afternoon and will pass through Russia, Belarus and Poland before reaching Duisburg in Germany.

The journey of more than 13,000 kilometers will take 19 days, 15 days shorter than sea freight, said a spokesperson with the Guangzhou Railway Corporation.

Guangdong is the leading Chinese province for foreign trade, with its exports accounting for about 30 percent of the national total.

The new line will see trains set out from Dongguan every Thursday.

 

[TaiShang]

On April 30, the Russian-based Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) is expected to formally accept the application of a new ice hockey team, HC Red Star Kunlun, for the 2016-17 season. This is notable because HC Red Star is going to be based out of Beijing, thus ushering in a new era for the KHL, which is in its ninth season, and bringing a new angle to Russian-Chinese relations.

The KHL was founded in 2008 with 21 of its 24 teams based in Russia (one each played out of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Latvia). However, from the start it had goals to move not just beyond the borders of Russia, but outside the former Soviet Union. For years, rumors abounded that teams from locations as diverse as Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Switzerland would join, though none of that happened. Expansion did occur, and in 2012-2013 eight different countries were represented in the KHL, though all were from former Communist states.

It was not until the 2014-15 season that this changed, with the addition of Jokerit, an historic team based in Helsinki, Finland. Critics would note that this was only made possible by the purchase of the team by a group led by Boris Rotenberg, a close friend of Vladimir Putin. Indeed nearly all KHL teams are owned either by oligarchs or state-run corporations, or a mixture of both, though details on ownership have never been fully disclosed.

With no proper moves into Europe, the KHL’s first president, Alexander Medvedev (who also served as the director-general of Gazprom Export from 2006 to 2014), was removed from his position and replaced by Dmitry Chernyshenko, who had previously served as the director of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Unlike his predecessor, Chernyshenko was not interested in moving into Europe. A combination of sanctions and general opposition from the European domestic ice hockey federations both contributed to this decision, so instead he looked east, toward Asia.

The choice to do so is rather logical. There are already two KHL teams located in the Russian Far East (in Khabarovsk and Vladivostok), and a team from the Russian-controlled Sakhalin Island joined Asia League Ice Hockey, which mainly consists of teams from Japan and South Korea, in 2014. There is also no denying that the chance to market themselves to a potential audience of 1.3 billion people is alluring to KHL officials, especially as the Chinese are not as hostile to Russia when compared to Europe.

However it is the increased focus of China on winter sports that seems to have truly spawned this decision. It is no coincidence that an ice hockey team was announced for Beijing only months after that city was awarded the 2022 Winter Olympics. With seven years until the start of the games, there is time to develop a taste for ice hockey in China. It would also serve as a means to improve the Chinese national team, which currently ranks 38th in the world and is playing in the fifth tier of the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) World Championships.

A parallel can be seen in nearby South Korea; after being awarded the 2018 Winter Olympics, their national team was the target of a mass effort to improve their performance. In ten years they have moved up from 33rd overall to a high of 21st. While still not good enough for the 16-team elite division, South Korea’s team is close enough that they were granted an automatic place in the Olympics. If China does not see similar improvements, the IIHF is under no obligation to grant them a similar exemption, which could be highly embarrassing for the host nation.

Reports surrounding the new team imply that it will try and be bold for its premier season. Even before it has been officially confirmed, which is merely a technicality in the world of the KHL, HC Red Star has reportedly made offers to Ilya Kovalchuk, one of the most prominent Russian players in the world, and Mike Keenan, one of the most highly successful coaches. Kovalchuk is famous in North America for walking away in 2013 from the National Hockey League (NHL) and a 15-year, $100 million contract in order to play in Russia, while Keenan is the only coach to have won a championship in both the NHL and KHL. These rumours have been denied since they were first reported in late March, but it is no secret that Kovalchuk has had issues recently with his current team, SKA St. Petersburg, and Keenan has not coached since being relieved in October 2015.

It will be one of the KHL’s boldest moves to have a team based in Beijing when the season starts in August. The risk of such a move is immense for both the KHL and the Chinese. But if it is a success, it could see the start of much closer cooperation between the Russians and Chinese in terms of sports, and a drastic shift in Russia’s attempts to cultivate influence, from west to east.

http://russia-insider.com/en/russias-hockey-league-worlds-2nd-richest-coming-china/ri13897

 

[TaiShang]

SCO Summit May Consider Russia-Mongolia-China Economic Corridor Project
Sputnik

11:18 14.04.2016(updated 13:00 14.04.2016)

This year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Uzbekistan may consider the creation of a Russia-Mongolia-China economic corridor on the sidelines, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.

ULAN BATOR (Sputnik) – The Uzbek capital of Tashkent hosts the six-member military, economic and political alliance’s next summit on June 23-24.

"We consider it important to make efforts to implement the ‘roadmap’ of cooperation between the three countries, as well as the rapid completion of the program to create the economic corridor between Russia, Mongolia and China, which could be put to the approval of the leaders on the sidelines of the SCO summit," Lavrov said in a speech at the Mongolian Foreign Ministry.

The heads of three states endorsed a roadmap of trilateral cooperation at a meeting in the Russian city of Ufa in July 2015. Lavrov said earlier on Thursday that its working group was finalizing the program for the establishment of the economic corridor.

 

[LowPost]

Great news, as an Ice Hockey fan I'll probably have to follow the KHL more regularly, though time could be an issue as I follow motorsports and footy (I'm a Kopite & Madridista) as well. Would be interesting to see whether, and if so, how and when HC Red Star Kunlun will develop into a top side in the league.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

Both Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Monday voiced their opposition to internationalizing the South China Sea dispute, calling for settlement through negotiation and consultation.

Wang and Lavrov made the statements during a meeting between them in the day. Wang is visiting Moscow to attend the 14th meeting with participation of foreign ministers of China, Russia and India.

China is safeguarding legitimate rights and interests in South China Sea and is entitled to choose, in accordance with relevant laws, by itself ways for resolving disputes, said Wang, adding that Beijing's refusal of the Philippines' unilaterally-proposed arbitration case over the issue is a move meant to uphold the dignity and authority of the law.

Both China and Russia should stay on guard against abuses of mandatory arbitration, said Wang.

While speaking of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to China this year, Wang said China stands ready to work with the Russian side in preparing for the forthcoming visit and making it a great success, so as to ensure the high-level development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination.

The Chinese Foreign Minister also called for concerted efforts in supporting Uzbekistan in making a success of this year's summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and advancing the steady development of the regional bloc.

For his part, Lavrov said Moscow and Beijing, in face of common challenges, have been upholding world peace through joint efforts and stepping up the expansion of such international organizations as the United Nations and the Group of 20, the international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies.

The two sides also agreed to work together and pursue the denuclearization on the Korean peninsula and peace and stability in the region.

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Abuse of mandatory arbitration, indeed China starts to question the legal basis of this international arbitration system, it became so abusive by making unilaterally decision without the consent of China regarding SCS...maybe it's about time for China to formulate a new approach to overwrite this international arbitration system as we did with World bank by creating our own system and organization.

 

[Nan Yang]

India didn't say aanything?

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

India didn't say anything?

After China and Russia made the statement, India wouldn't dare to make any statement regarding SCS as it did in front of US. Keep quiet is the best option knowing that Russia is not please with how India cozy with US. I think Russia's statement over SCS has sent a strong message to India that it will not remain neutral between China and India if the latter keeps tilting toward US at the expense of Russia.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

China offers to exchange technologies with Russia. China offers the technology needed to create radiation-resistant electronic space equipment. In return, China asks for a technology to build liquid rocket engines.

According to a senior source at the Russian Space Agency Roskosmos, "Chinese partners want to receive not only oxygen-kerosene rocket engines, but also the technology for their production. In return, they offer a technology for radiation-resistant space equipment. To be honest, this exchange does not seem fair to us," an official said.

According to the Izvestia newspaper, Roskosmos earlier said that the supply of rocket engines to China was impossible due to the absence of appropriate regulatory framework.

"Unlike Russia, China is not a party to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Therefore, the organization of cooperation in the field of rocketry requires the creation of a reliable legal framework to regulate obligations of the parties for the protection and non-proliferation of rocket technologies."

Noteworthy, mankind is on the verge of the most exciting era of space exploration since the launch of the first satellite to orbit in 1957. Yet, space exploration is suspiciously absent from pre-election campaigns of all candidates for US presidency.

- See more at: http://www.pravdareport.com/news/sc...2-russia_russia_space-0/#sthash.u42K6Urw.dpuf

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It's first time I ever heard of this kind of technology exchange but nevertheless very interesting to see China open this kind of proposal. It's also good to know that China has something on hand (radiation resistance electronic technology) as exchange instead of been lack behind on every field and been an importer of technology.

I don't know how Russia define the fairness regarding this technology exchange, maybe one day when Russia realize that Radiation resistance electronic is equally vital as engine in order to achieve a complete successful space mission then China and Russia can strike a deal

 

[Beast]

China offers to exchange technologies with Russia. China offers the technology needed to create radiation-resistant electronic space equipment. In return, China asks for a technology to build liquid rocket engines.

According to a senior source at the Russian Space Agency Roskosmos, "Chinese partners want to receive not only oxygen-kerosene rocket engines, but also the technology for their production. In return, they offer a technology for radiation-resistant space equipment. To be honest, this exchange does not seem fair to us," an official said.

According to the Izvestia newspaper, Roskosmos earlier said that the supply of rocket engines to China was impossible due to the absence of appropriate regulatory framework.

"Unlike Russia, China is not a party to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Therefore, the organization of cooperation in the field of rocketry requires the creation of a reliable legal framework to regulate obligations of the parties for the protection and non-proliferation of rocket technologies."

Noteworthy, mankind is on the verge of the most exciting era of space exploration since the launch of the first satellite to orbit in 1957. Yet, space exploration is suspiciously absent from pre-election campaigns of all candidates for US presidency.

- See more at: http://www.pravdareport.com/news/sc...2-russia_russia_space-0/#sthash.u42K6Urw.dpuf

-----------------

It's first time I ever heard of this kind of technology exchange but nevertheless very interesting to see China open this kind of proposal. It's also good to know that China has something on hand (radiation resistance electronic technology) as exchange instead of been lack behind on every field and been an importer of technology.

I don't know how Russia define the fairness regarding this technology exchange, maybe one day when Russia realize that Radiation resistance electronic is equal vital as engine in order to achieve a space mission then China and Russia can strike a deal

I highly doubt China is so interested in Russia rocket engine. The YF-100 engine is very powerful and will debut for CZ-5 in June this year. Russia media still lives in cold war mentality where they think China is weak. Putin must send some KGB to teach these reporter a lesson. The gravest enemy Russian face is American. Those reporter shall spend more effort on American.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

I highly doubt China is so interested in Russia rocket engine. The YF-100 engine is very powerful and will debut for CZ-5 in June this year. Russia media still lives in cold war mentality where they think China is weak. Putin must send some KGB to teach these reporter a lesson. The gravest enemy Russian face is American. Those reporter shall send more effort on American.

Both China and Russia have engine and radiation electronic technology and both are capable to perform a successful space mission with their current technologies but if both can complemented each other's weakness such make engine and satellite more reliable or less costly then I think it's worth for a technology exchange discussion....Russia didn't say it don't want the exchange but to question the fairness of the deal.

 

[Beast]

Both China and Russia have engine and radiation electronic technology and both are capable to perform a successful space mission with their current technologies but if both can complemented each other's weakness such make engine and satellite more reliable or less costly then I think it's worth for a technology exchange discussion....Russia didn't say it don't want the exchange but to question the fairness of the deal.

China is moving perfectly in space development. From heavy launch rocket to space station. Beidou II, High resolution real time satelite imaging camera and top end spy satelite and supported by strong fund. Unlike Russia lacking of investment, funds and drain of talent. China space technology has advance so many years without foreign help. So what's make any help now, a different?

That article is just more of a sour grape from old time cold war mentality reporter as I say.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

China is moving perfectly in space development. From heavy launch rocket to space station. Beidou II, High resolution real time satelite imaging camera and top end spy satelite and supported by strong fund. Unlike Russia lacking of investment, funds and drain of talent. China space technology has advance so many years without foreign help. So what's make any help now, a different?

That article is just more of a sour grape from old time cold war mentality reporter as I say.

Despite of lacking of fund Russia is still more advance than China in some technologies fields, that's undeniable facts. And to answer your question, it will make difference if this engine is bigger, more powerful, more reliable, less costly ...something that we don't have...then it's worth...I don't think China is interested to exchange for something that worst than what we current possess..

 

[TaiShang]

China, Russia, India seek bigger role in global affairs
Xinhua, April 19, 2016

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L), Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (C) and Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attend the 14th Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of China, Russia and India, in Moscow, capital of Russia, on April 18, 2016. [Xinhua/Bai Xueqi]


Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday suggested that China, Russia and India expand cooperation so that the three-party mechanism will play a bigger role in global affairs.

Wang, who is visiting Moscow attending the 14th trilateral meeting of foreign ministers, made the remarks when he had a meeting with his Russian and Indian counterparts Monday.

The ever-changing global and regional circumstances have underlined the need for closer communication among the three countries and more contributions from them to the settlement of complicated hot-button issues, said Wang.

As the world's major emerging markets, Wang said, China, Russia and India established the cooperative mechanism not only out of the trend of multi-polarity, but also the need for common progress, which is helpful to create a more positive environment for the development of developing countries.

The Chinese foreign minister also said to put into full play their potential, the three nations should make more efforts to reform their economic structure, encourage innovation and transform industrial patterns, which will further promote their cooperation in all areas, from politics to economy and trade, and then to security and culture,

On global economic governance, Wang called for gaining more say for emerging markets through frameworks of the Group of 20 and BRICS, saying that China is ready to take the opportunity of this year's G20 summit to be held in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang province, to exchange views with Russia and India on new ways to speed up world economic recovery. BRICS groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Based on mutual understanding and trust, the three parties agreed to keep working together to fight against such evils as terrorism, piracy, and illegal drug smuggling, while facilitating the political solutions to regional hot-button issues, particularly the crises in Syria and Ukraine, as well as the peace process in Afghanistan and the Middle East.

The Chinese diplomat stressed that cooperation among Beijing, Moscow and New Delhi is an open mechanism, not targeting any third party and having no intention to ally to confront others.

The trilateral mechanism will continue to play a positive and constructive role in improving global stability and regional development, and to promote democracy of international relations, Wang said.

 

[TaiShang]

After China and Russia made the statement, India wouldn't dare to make any statement regarding SCS as it did in front of US. Keep quiet is the best option knowing that Russia is not please with how India cozy with US. I think Russia's statement over SCS has sent a strong message to India that it will not remain neutral between China and India if the latter keeps tilting toward US at the expense of Russia.

Russia's support on SCS issue is very critical. Perhaps the next step should be to organize annual drills in SCS, similar to the one held every year in ECS under the title of Joint Sea.

This will send a strong message to every related actors as to the ultimate shape of alliances in the region. No country, basically, can team up with Russia at the cost of China's vital interests.

Ukraine Crisis, thankfully, pushed China-Russia partnership into levels never seen before.

 

[帅的一匹]

Of course it will excercise more influence in the future. India is better with Russia and China than USA. Uncle Sam is no happy with it to the extreme.