Introducing the “B & R”

In the previous sessions we have talked about international tourism in China, and also the domestic tourism travelling within China, and also the China outbound travel to the outside world.

After the review of tourism development from these three types of tourism and also from historical point of view, now let’s look at One Belt and One Road Initiative and its implications to the tourism development for the countries on the OBAOR together with China.

What about definition of One Belt and One Road? What we mean by One Belt and One Road? The definition of One Belt and One Road Initiative, We often call OBAOR initiative, is started in September and October in 2013. The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, put forward the One Belt and One Road initiative which include two big strategies.

They are: One Belt meaning Silk Road Economic Belt, One Road meaning 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

The main route of Silk Road Economic Belt starts from Xi An and passing through central Asia, western Asia, Moscow and finally arrived in Venice. The main route of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road starts from Quanzhou of China and passing through Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Beihai, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Colombo, Kolkata, Nairobi, Athens and finally reaches Venice.

And later on, Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli announced the construction of Six Economic Corridors on May 27 in 2015, which are the major projects aiming to promote Asia-Europe connectivity.

The six International Economic Corridors are the followings. they are China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor,

New Eurasian Land Bridge, China-Central and Western Asia Economic Corridor,

China-Indo-China Peninsula Economic Corridor, China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor.

So what about countries and regions along the OBAOA? Up to 2018, China has completed strategic connections with 74 countries regions and international organizations.

There are 11 countries in Southeast Asian Nations, 8 countries in South Asia, 3 countries in East Asia, 17 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, 7 countries in Commoweath of Independant States, 15 countries in West Asia, and 5 countries in Central Asia, and 2 countries in North America, and 5 countries in Africa, and finally 1 country in Australia.

What about within China? Which other provinces and cities are included in OBAOR?

One Belt and One Road includes 18 provinces and cities within China: 6 Northwest Provinces, 1 Inland City, 3 Southwest provinces, 3 Northeast provinces, and 5 Southeast provinces.

Xinjiang is the core area of Silk Road economic belt, while Fujian is the core area of 21st century maritime silk road. Yunnan is a radiation center for South Asia and Southeast Asia.

The three northeastern provinces are important windows for opening up to the countries at the border of northern part of China.