Introduction : China's One Belt, One Road Vision : implications for the Middle East

President Xi Jinping's One Belt, One Road (OBOR) vision is, according to Chinese media communiqués, an attempt to revive the pre- modern Silk Road. But while the historical Silk Road, according to historian Valerie Hanson, had primarily been a conduit of cultural and religious exchange, the modern- day iteration is meant to transform West Asia economically, and better tie it in with the Chinese manufacturing powerhouse through ambitious infrastructural projects. In fact, President Xi's vision had been preceded in 2014 by Premier Li Keqiang's statement at the Bao'ao Forums where he signalled China's intent on "collectively forging Asia's future development". Chinese policymakers have since gone to great lengths to explain that the OBOR would in no way overlap with China's contribution to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) or its ongoing collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), but would in fact create an umbrella for multi- track business and security platforms.