2022 Year in Review

P H O T O : P A N G X I N G L E I / X I N H U A V I A A P
CHINA’S (NOT SO) GREEN SILK ROAD: THE ADVERSE
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE BELT AND ROAD
INITIATIVE AND THE WAY FORWARD
FIONA DE CUYPER
Sri Lanka isn’t the only country with a failing economy and growing foreign debt.
Developing When B y thinking S o n i countries P oabout r w a l in Chinese Asia such history, as Pakistan, one ought Laos, to Maldives, think about and its Bangladesh legendary are
following trade routes similar such trajectories. as the Silk Road According stemming to from Laos the officials, Han Dynasty, China undertook an ancient 813
projects grid of trade worth routes more running than $16 all billion the way in from 2021. China Laos to is Europe. facing a The shortage Belt and of Road food and
fuel Initiative supplies, ('BRI'), which established concerning 2013, given is one-third inspired of by the these population trade routes lives in poverty. and
Laos’ comprises public a debt transcontinental amounted to corridor 88 per cent over of land its gross and over domestic sea, connecting product (GDP), China owing
almost with South half of East it to and China, South according Asia, the to South reports Pacific, from the Central World Asia, Bank. Russia, In July the2022,
Pakistan’s Middle East, inflation Eastern surged Africa and to 25 Europe. per cent It is and a global it too infrastructure is struggling development
to meet fuel and
food strategy demands aimed at for improving its population. regional Pakistan’s integration, current stimulating government economic is increasingly
growth
seeking and increasing negotiations trade with through the extending International loans Monetary to a range Fund of (IMF) countries for economic and
bailouts international to decrease organisations, its foreign codified debts. in bilateral Memoranda of Understanding
with China.
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