Organized by
Kathmandu

Organized by

Nepal-China Friendship Forum
Friends of Silk Road Club- Nepal
8 October 2023

Background

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), proposed by the People's Republic of China in 2013, represents one of the most ambitious and transformative infrastructure and economic development projects in the 21st century. Over the past decade, the BRI has evolved significantly, reshaping global trade, investment patterns, connectivity networks, and fostering academic collaborations across borders. As we mark the tenth anniversary of this groundbreaking initiative, it is essential to reflect on its achievements, challenges, and the way forward.

The Belt and Road Initiative

The BRI, often referred to as the New Silk Road, consists of two main components: the Silk Road Economic Belt, focused on land-based infrastructure spanning from China to Europe through Central Asia, and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which concentrates on sea routes connecting China to Southeast Asia, South Asia, Africa, and Europe. This ambitious initiative aims to enhance trade, foster economic cooperation, and promote cultural exchange across the regions involved.

Seminar Objectives

Outcomes

The outcomes of the seminar jointly organized by the Nepal-China Friendship Forum and Friends of Silk Road Club-Nepal on "A Decade of BRI: Deepening Trade, Investment, Connectivity, and Academic Relations" could be:

Participants gain a holistic overview of the Belt and Road Initiative’s achievements, challenges, and its impact on global trade, investment patterns, connectivity, and academic collaborations over the past decade.

Facilitated dialogues among experts, policymakers, academics, and business leaders lead to exchanges of diverse insights and experiences related to the BRI, fostering a deeper understanding of its multifaceted implications.

By analyzing trade relations, investment opportunities, infrastructure development, and academic collaborations within the BRI framework, participants identify potential areas for growth and cooperation.

Discussions center around assessing challenges such as sustainability, transparency in investments, environmental implications of infrastructure projects, and academic partnerships, aiming to find strategies for addressing these hurdles.

The seminar serves as a platform to explore avenues for strengthening collaboration between BRI countries, devising strategies to enhance trade, attract investments, improve connectivity, and foster academic partnerships in the next phase of the BRI.

The diverse pool of participants, including government officials, scholars, economists, business leaders, infrastructure experts, and international organization representatives, ensures a comprehensive and inclusive discussion, enriching the perspectives shared.

The seminar contributes to charting a course for the future development of the BRI, offering insights and recommendations that could potentially influence policies and initiatives concerning global trade, investments, connectivity, and academic collaborations.

 

Photos Of A Decade of BRI "Deepening Trade, Investment, Connectivity and Academic Relations"