One Belt and One Road (OBOR), raised up by Chinese President Xi Jinping, is a project that focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among multiple countries spread across the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe.
It is a development strategy adopted by the Chinese government involving infrastructure development and economic cooperation in countries in Europe, Asia and Africa. “Belt” refers to the overland routes for road and rail transportation, called “the Silk Road Economic Belt”; whereas “road” refers to the sea routes, or the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. From South-east Asia to Eastern Europe and Africa, Belt and Road includes 71 countries that account for half the world’s population and a quarter of global GDP.
The initiative was unveiled by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September and October 2013 during visits to Kazakhstan and Indonesia, and was thereafter promoted by Premier Li Keqiang during state visits to Asia and Europe.
