China Leads in Infrastructure and Trade: It Now Needs to Become More Directly Involved in the Global Health Dialogue

Abstract

China’s President Xi Jinping in May 2017 at the opening of its Globalization Forum, described the Chinese vision to draw on its ancient history and revive links between it, Central Asia, Europe, and the rest of the world as its “Belt and Road Initiative”. He pledged additional billions for China’s Silk Road Fund and billions more in new lending over the coming years for nations and international organizations that join the program. This new announcement is a piece of the China mosaic in supporting infrastructure in the Asia Pacific region. The Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which China established and began operations only in December 2015, has 52 member states (and another 25 prospective members), is seen as the key public sector instrument in financing railways, roads, bridges, and industry, in the region, filling major gaps not  covered by existing multilateral banks such as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, or traditional bilateral donors, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, or European Union.,,,,,