Vladimir Petrovskiy

(Chief Academic Researcher, Institute of Far Eastern Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences)

Author

Dr. Vladimir Petrovskiy is Chief Academic Researcher of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, and Project Manager of Russian International Affairs Council. He has a PhD degree in Political Science. He is Full Member of the Russian Academy of Military Science, Senior Counselor of Asian Economic Cooperation Foundation (AECF). He is also Producer and News Editor of BBC Russian Service Moscow Bureau. He is the author of four books and more than 100 articles on theory of international regimes, human security and human development, etc.

Abstract

The Silk Road Economic Belt initiative is supported both by the Chinese and Russian leadership. Scholars and experts of both countries should focus on the political and economic benefit which can be brought about by the implementation of the initiative. As a large-scale project, the Silk Road Economic Belt represents a new model for development: it is not a regional organization designed for economic globalization, but an international economic system based on voluntary coordination. The Silk Road Economic Belt initiative does not contradict Eurasian Economic Union projects, while in fact, the two can develop in parallel until a free trade zone is built. This report pays special attention to construction of infrastructure and intercontinental transportation, which should be held as priority for the development of the Silk Road initiative. Against such backdrop, the report analyzes the concept of Russia’s Eurasian transportation corridor and believes this can be integrated into the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative. There is a possibility that the Silk Road Economic Belt program can cooperate with Crimea which joined Russia in March this year. Russia should first address the development of East and West Siberia and the Far East before it studies the possibility

of joining the Silk Road Economic Belt. A proper economic foundation for the initiative is Russia’s transportation project supported by Asian-Pacific countries, including

the reconstruction of Trans-Siberian Railway, Baikal-Amur trunk and spare lines, trans-North Korea and its connection with Trans-Siberian Railway, a new cross-border bridge, new port and energy pipelines over Amur River.