Will Lebanon succeed in joining the new world silk road?

The Ambassador of China to Beirut Jiang Jiang disclosed on Friday that his country is planning to revive the maritime silk road for the Twenty First Century. Kicking off from China to two destinations, one to Australia and another to Europe through South East Asia, the Road’s aim is to promote economic benefits for all countries situated along the road. Jiang’s statement came in a lecture he gave at the Doctorate Higher Institute at the state-run Lebanese University entitled ‘The Silk Road and the Economic Belt’. The Ambassador stressed the need to boost trade and human communication, as well as financial and banking cooperation among said nations similar to the ancient silk road which stood for economic interest and openness. He pointed out that some parties have proposed the above initiative that received positive feedback from the states along the belt. Jiang also mentioned that a Silk Road Fund and an investment bank have been established for this end. The plan, he said, constitutes a new platform for cooperation among involved states and serves developing nations on many levels as well. From the political side, Jiang noted, the Silk Road creates multiple poles as opposed to the notion of unilateralism in the World Order. It should be noted, . "It should be noted that President Aoun had held in January, a meeting with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, Zhang Ming, where the dialogue between the two parties focused around common interests between the two countries, especially the "belt and road" initiative put forward by the Chinese President, willing that Lebanon contribute in it, also  the director of the Port of Tripoli, Ahmed Tamer, said, quoting an international maritime transport expert, that the facility is expected to play a pivotal role and to have a central economic de facto reality in the service of this road. (Al Mustaqbal, March 12, 2017)