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The Eurasian Century

Moving forward with BRICS and BIMSTEC

Eresh Omar Jamal
ON his return from an extensive speaking tour in China recently, historian, researcher and bestselling author, William F. Engdhal wrote that "a Eurasian Century at this point is unstoppable' (“The Eurasian Century is Now Unstoppable', New Eastern Outlook, October 10). Central to his analysis was the Chinese-led One Belt, One Road initiative (OBOR) aimed at connecting countries 'from China across Central Asia, Russia, Belarus, Iran and potentially Turkey', through the largest public infrastructure projects in modem history.
A detailed proposal for building an extensive, modem network of high-speed train lines from the Pacific coast of China and Russia through Central Asia and into Iran was already presented by China's economic planning organisation and the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Commerce last year. At the crux of OBOR's connectivity ambition are two main routes.
On land, it will focus on jointly building "a new Eurasian Land Bridge from China via Kazakhstan on to Rotterdam' and land rail corridors that 'include developing China-Mongolia-Russia, China-Central Asia-West Asia, China-Pakistan, Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar, and China-Indochina Peninsula economic corridors' At sea, it will emphasise the joint building of transport routes connecting major sea ports along the Belt and Road, connecting "present China ports at Haikou and Fujian with Kuala Lumpur's port in Malaysia at the Malacca Strait passage, Calcutta in India, Nairobi in Kenya and via the Suez Canal to Athens and beyond".
Together, they would form a comprehensive "circulatory system". China has already signed memoranda of understanding with more than 55 countries and regional organisations to that end. The President of China has also personally visited more than 35 countries to discuss its implementation. China Railway Croup and China Communications Construction Company have finalised "contracts in 26 countries". Work on "40 energy projects have begun" in 19 countries along the Belt and Road.
These are only some of the key progress made in regards to the great Chinese vision, one, which other countries also seem to share. They include, primarily, the BRICS countries, as evident from the newly formed BRICS Development Bank's willingness to fund projects within the OBOR initiative. But that's not all the BRICS countries are doing. Over the last one month, they have been making deals left, right and centre.
During the eighth BRICs summit in Coa this month, "Russia and India signed 18 agreements, including contracts on arms and energy cooperation" ("How BRICS Members Will Benefit From Leaders" 'Goa Retreat', Sputnik, October 16). On the same day, the BRICS Business Council also recommended
members "to form a new rating agency for emerging economies'. According to the Chairman of the Council, Onkar Kanwar, "Deepening trade will be an important part of BRICS agenda in the foreseeable future".
During the summit, leaders of The Bay Of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member states — Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka — were also present and held talks with BRICS leaders on various issues. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister told Sputnik, "The BIMSTEC idea of inter-regional infrastructural and political connectivity of various regions is important".
His words resonated with President Jinping's action even before the summit began as well as during it. President Jinping's milestone visit to Bangladesh that led to the largest ever pledge of assistance to Bangladesh by any single country, for example, and his vow to cooperate more with Sri Lanka and
Myanmar after meeting the two countries leaders separately at the Goa summit, are good indicators of greater cooperation within South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, that was repeatedly emphasised by all the leaders who were present.
Mr. Jinpingagain reiterated China's commitment towards such goals. China Central Television (CCTV) quoted him saying, "Both groups | BRICS and BIMSTEC] belong to the big family of developing countries" ("President Xi attends BRICS-BIMsieC leaders' dialogue", October 17). They "share common desires in safeguarding world peace and regional security, as well as the common needs for economic development and improving people's livelihood and benefits" and, hence, should "join hands and make concerted efforts to enhance policy communication and coordination, complement each other's advantages and promote regional economic integration".
His closest ally in world politics today, Russia's President Vladimir Putin again backed his sentiments. Mr. Putin stressed after the Goa declaration that BRICS is a "key element’ in the embryonic multipolar world ("BRICS continues its advance, one step at a time", PT, October 18). In terms of working with BIMSTEC, in a similar fashion to China, Russia too has been making deals and increasing cooperation with its member countries. Increasing the volume of bilateral trade between Russia and Bangladesh to almost USD 1 billion in recent years, is a testament to such attempts succeeding ("Russia's NPP Near the Bay of Bengal", New Eastern Outlook, October 21).
Bangladesh has, in fact, become "a major supplier of seafood and textiles to the Russian market, while Moscow is exporting metal industrial products and heavy machinery to Bangladesh'. Most strikingly, according to official data, in September alone, "Bangladesh imported about 245,000 tons of grain from Russia", which accounts for a significant portion of all Russian exports.
Thus, it cannot be denied that Bangladesh is starting to receive some benefits of Eurasian countries working together already. Other countries of this vast landmass too can share in the success by keeping to the pledge of leaders present at the summit What every country of Eurasia can also take away from all this is that if they do work together, given the current world setting, this century can truly be a Eurasian Century, as underlined by Mr. Engdhal.
With that in mind, Russia and China, the two most powerful countries of this region, should continue and, indeed, increase providing their support to other countries and leadership to the various development projects involving all of Eurasia. Other powerful countries that fall within its boundaries such as India, should also take up a more proactive role. With their leadership, support and knowhow, other countries will surely be itching to join in and take development and cooperation to a new level, while working towards ensuring peace and prosperity for all of Eurasia and its fascinatingly diverse group of people. The writer is a member of the Editorial team, The Dally Star.