Heartland-to-heartland linkages sought in China-driven industrial superproject

The China-driven superproject, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is a conceptual redevelopment of the ancient global tradeways of the Silk Road, aims to link the heartlands of countries by land, sea and air routes, said Renmin University School of International Studies Professor Wang Yiwei on Friday. Starting with the Chinese heartland provinces, the initiative intends to spearhead development through the largest landlocked country Kazakhstan and then on towards Russia and Europe, as well as to India, the Middle East and Africa, and along existing regional air and sea trade routes in Asia, he said at the University of the Witwatersrand- (Wits-) hosted colloquium on Chinese Engagement with Africa.