“A little more than four years have passed since President Xi Jinping launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Within the framework of the BRI, the Middle East and the entire Mediterranean region — the geopolitical construct composed of South Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East — have become central to China’s foreign policy. Some have even stated that it is the Middle East and Africa’s natural resources, rather than the rich European markets at the end of the new Silk Road that are the real targets of the BRI.”
Andrea Ghiselli (T.wai & Fudan University) is author of the article “China and the Middle East: Growing Influence and Divergent Perceptions” published by the Middle East Institute.
