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THE GREAT SILK ROAD AND THE PRESENT
R. Zhanbulatova, K. Kanat L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University [email protected], , [email protected]
In the article the revival of the great Silk Road in Central Asia is discussed. The Nurly Zhol Program's relationship with Western China-Western Europe, as well as the achievements of modern development of Kazakhstan are addressed.
Key words: Silk Road, "Nurly Zhol" Program of the Republic of Kazakhstan, "One Belt One Way".
In the history of mankind, there is a great deal of communication. Economic, social contacts develop not only trade, but also culture. The trade route between Asia and Europe was named the Great Silk Road. This road, linking China with many countries Western Europe, has had a great impact on the development of the economy, trade, science and education. Its influence is huge.
A few centuries later, this ancient "Silk Road" revives. During the globalization, the Western China-Western Europe strategy of "One Belt One Way" was put onto the stage of history. This road is not only economical but comprehensive. Cultural exchange, cross-border trade, international cooperation, and others are deemed to develop through it. Silk Road today is a friendly way of life.
But the main goal is to strengthen economic relations. The Silk Road mainly went through Central Asia to Europe. Starting from the Alatau-Khorgos passage, the road goes to Europe, traversing Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. One goes through Turkey, the other goes to Europe through the Russian Federation. Since the Central Asian states have no offshore routes, the "One Belt One Way" strategy is ideal for them to communicate with European countries.
The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N. A. Nazarbayev noted at the International Cooperation Summit "One Belt One Way" held in Beijing on May 14, 2017 that he fully supported the initiative and that this strategy was in line with the Nurly Zhol Program of Kazakhstan.
In fact, Chinese President Xi Jinping talked about the "Silk Road Economic Belt" for the first time in 2013 at the Nazarbayev University in Astana.
Implementation of the "Silk Road" strategy will be through road and rail way. To achieve this goal, the Chinese government has invested $ 26 billion in road traffic, production, energy and other 51 cooperation between two states.
Why the Chinese government allocates such a measure is because it believes that Kazakhstan takes a special place in Central Asia. Kazakhstan is the first station at the Western China-Western Europe 'Silk Road Economic Belt'. At the same time, "One Belt One Way" strategy and the successful implementation of the Nurly Zhol program are expected be positively influenced by this economic belt. The "Nurly Zhol" program aims to modernize the country's economy through strengthening relations with developed countries. One of the key points in this program is the development of its internal logistics hub and possibilities for cargo transportation. The city of Astana, functioning as the central hub, is expected to connect all regional transport systems into one whole system. Of course, the highways and railways have a great place in the dynamic development of the economy of Kazakhstan, which occupies the ninth place in the world. [1, p. 505]
The first stage of the "Nurly Zhol" program is implemented within the framework of" 100 real steps covering the years 2015-2019". [2]
769.6 billion tenge was allocated from the National Fund for the implementation of the "Nurly Zhol" program just this year, including targeted transfers - 503.4 billion tenge. and national holdings' bonds worth of 266.2 billion tenge.
Within the state program "Nurly Zhol" 11 highways were built. 2452 km of the Western Europe-Western China road from the Silk Road has been constructed, and the freight traffic has doubled. Over 100 thousand people were employed in the construction of the projects under the "Nurly Zhol" program. Among them only 3000 are foreign specialists. Taraz-Almaty road construction has been completed. The road construction has come out from Shymkent and reached the border city of Orenburg of the Russian Federation. For the program to be completed on time, 4.5 billion dollars of foreign investments were drawn.
In general, within the framework of the Nurly Zhol Infrastructure Program and China's New Silk Road Strategy, it is planned to build 12 motorways of more than 7,000 km within the framework of "Transport and Logistics Infrastructure Development" and to construct a ferry crossing at "Land port".
Thousands of Kazakhs who have been returning from China to their historic homeland are actively involved in the construction of the Silk Road program. Knowledge of Chinese language benefits them. Chinese road construction companies are embracing the people.
The Silk Road strategy will certainly have an impact on the global economy. The presence of more than 130 qualified representatives with 29 heads of state at the "One Belt One Way" international summit on May 14, 2017, reflects its high significance.
A total of 57 trains runs through the network of railways from China to Europe. Railway communication in Central Asia has risen by 49% [4, p 6] The Chinese government is showing interest in further development. For this purpose, in April 2017, China, Belarus, Germany, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Poland and Russia, all seven states officially signed an "Agreement on Deepening Cooperation between China and
the European Railway" at the suggestion of China Railway Corporation. This is the result of the development of Western China - Western Europe railroad network development project.
"One Belt One Way Strategy" put forward by the state of China, which is also a world influential project, has to encompass huge mass. It covers three continents of Asia, Europe and Africa. The total economic cost is $ 23 trillion. Belt states cover 1/4 of the total value of the global trade. Such a great plan will accelerate the globalization process by linking the states. McKinsey & Company predicts that by 2050, the growth rate of the belt countries could account for 80% of the global GDP growth, it is estimated to be a global economic development engine. [5, p.6]
The "One Belt One Way" project is divided into 6 directions: China-Mongolia-Russia route, New Eurasia continental bridge, China-Central Asia-Western Asia route, China-Southeast China islands route, China-Pakistan route, Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar route. Among them, China-Central Asia-Western Asia route is a great energy channel from China through the Alatau-Khorgos transit to Europe covering Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Iraq and Turkey. The new Eurasian continental bridge is the International Railway Path parallel with the China-Central Asia-Western Asia route, which runs from the port of Lianyungang in the east of China and reaches the Dutch port of Rotterdam, with a total length of 10900km [3, p.
These two directions are an important way to connect the economic framework of the two continents of Asia and Europe. The last station of the "One Belt One Way" strategy is focused on Western Europe. This great project proposed by China is aimed at open and mutually beneficial cooperation from the part of the countries along the belt. Meanwhile, the importance of Europe was announced on March 28, 2015 by the China National Development and Reform Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Trade Development Department. The document titled "Establishing the Silk Road Economic Belt Together and the Directions and Agenda of the Silk Road Development in the 21st Century" points out the importance of Europe. This is the role of the Silk Road that it combines the active economies of the East Asia and the developed economy of the Western European. The European states have started to consider this strategy since March 2015 and are showing their support for China. England is one of the first to support the creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). At the same time, the 14 states of Germany, France, the Netherlands, as well as the AIIB member states, further promoted the development of the One Belt One Way.
There is no doubt about the importance of Central Asia in the "One Belt One Way" stratagem. Central Asia's inland geographical location strategy plays a bridge role in integrating East Asia and Western Europe in the "One Belt One Way". China can create conditions for Central Asian states to go out to sea routes and open new energy markets for themselves.
Renewal of the Great Silk Road is profitable for Kazakhstan's economy. The program "Nurly Zhol" supplements the projects of Western China's Western Europe connection. The ancient Silk Road will once again integrate peoples, strengthen international communication by cultural and trade exchanges.
Bibliography
1. Nazarbayev N. A., Life Crossings. - Astana, 2015 - 568 p.
2. Nurly Zhol - The Way to the Future. Head of State N. A. Nazarbayev Nazarbayev's Address to the People // The Eurasian National University. - November 20, 2014 (177-178). 1 p.
3. Establishing the Silk Road Economic Belt Together and the Directions and Agenda of the Silk Road Development in the 21st Century. - Shinhua Agency. March 28, 2010. - 15 p.
4. Zhang Tszadun, Current Situation and Development Directions for the "One Way Belonging" Strategy Initiative // Economic Research in the Indian Ocean - 2017, No. 2. - 24h.
5. Ma YI, the Relationship between China and Europe on the "One Belt One Way", the View of Both Parties / Ma Yi, Chen Jimin // World Economy and Politics. -2015, No. 11. - 30 p.
