Current problems in developing the new silk road from China to Europe

Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping, 198035, 5/7, Dvinskaya str, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

^* Corresponding author: smirnovab@gumrf.ru

Abstract

The rapid development of China dates back to the twentieth century. From an economically underdeveloped country, China has become one of the economic leaders of the world, a major exporter of goods around the world. In the twenties of the twenty-first century, it has in its hands a resource that no other country can boast of. One of China’s great boasts is its extensive network of high-speed railway lines (HSR). The length of China’s HSR surpasses all existing HSRs in the world. In 2012, the country proposed a lucrative project: building a new HSR network across Eurasia to link a number of countries. And while some work is currently underway, there is still no clear plan. The project seems promising not only for China, but also for the other participating countries; it would develop the regions and the economy as a whole and anchor the countries on the world stage in terms of freight transport. But in the ten years of the project’s existence, no clear implementation has come to fruition. It is necessary to find out what is stalling the project and find solutions to existing problems. Or, on the contrary, to finally recognize that the project is considered unprofitable for a number of countries. It is known that part of the territory of Russia, a country that has not yet given a clear answer to this project, will be the largest section of this road, which means it is worth digging deeper into the problem of this project in Russia as well.