Recently, Chinese government released a white paper laying out long-term plans for its 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, a component of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It calls for establishing ocean-based ‘blue economic passages’ connecting Asia with Africa, Oceania and Europe. Document titled, ‘Vision for Maritime Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative’ has been jointly released by National Development and Reform Commission and the State Oceanic Administration of China.[1] It lays out a vision for development, prosperity, security and building of a new regional order.
China calls for ‘synchronising development plans,’ while engaging in ‘all-dimensional multitiered and broad-scoped’ maritime cooperation to build open and transparent partnership platforms with countries along the Maritime Silk Road. Such cooperation, as per document, will promote mutually beneficial ‘blue partnerships,’ and forge a ‘blue engine’ for sustainable development. Maritime cooperation will also enable nations to address challenges and crises, thus, promoting ‘regional peace and stability’.
