TOKYO: The Diplomat International magazine, published in Tokyo, affirmed that the Sultanate can be of special importance at the Silk Road Economic Belt, also known as the One Belt, One Road” (OBOR), an initiative by China with the aim of reviving the old Silk Road, which dates back to the 2000 BC. The road was used for transporting goods between China, Central Asia, Persia, Arabs, Minor Asia and Europe.
A report published by the magazine, specialised in Asia and Pacific affairs, said that the Sultanate of Oman, situated closer to East Africa, India, Iran, Pakistan, Yemen, and the greater Indian Ocean region than other GCC states, will be of immense strategic value to Beijing’s OBOR plans. The Sultanate is positioned to play a significant role in China’s efforts to revive ancient maritime trade routes in lands which Oman once ruled as the center of an Indian Ocean empire encompassing countries linked to China via OBOR. Within this context, Muscat has fully embraced OBOR. Moreover, as a stable country, Oman’s cohesion and security can only raise Beijing’s interest in the Sultanate.’
The “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR) initiative is China’s ambitious vision for restructuring the global economy on Beijing’s terms. As the world’s largest planned economic corridor, OBOR encompasses 60 countries and links China to Europe through ports, highways, bridges, tunnels, communications grids, and rail links along two pathways that traverse several regions. The “Belt” (the “Silk Road Economic Belt”) stretches from Western China to Europe via Central Asia. The “Road” (the “21st century Maritime Silk Road”) links China to Europe via the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, and Red Sea. It should be noted that China is currently spending about $150 billion on the countries that agreed to be part of the initiative, which was unveiled in 2013. — ONA
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