Cholpon-ata: The alignment of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) reflects the demands of the times, demonstrates the consistency of cooperation concepts between China and Eurasian countries, and creates valuable opportunities for regional development, officials and experts have said.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Alexey Fadeev, deputy director of the Information and Press Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that Russia, along with its partners in the union, is collaborating with China to align the EAEU development plans with the Belt and Road Initiative. This alignment marks a stage of practical implementation of joint infrastructure, transport, and digital projects, noted Johnny Melikyan, a senior expert at the Orbeli Analytical Research Center.
Melikyan highlighted that the coordinated effort on market integration, especially in forming common markets for gas, oil, and digitalization of freight rail transportation, is directly linked to the initiative. This creates conditions for increasing trade flows and mutual competitiveness. A recent meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in Cholpon-Ata focused on strengthening the union’s economic potential, boosting mutual trade, and improving living standards.
Aliaksei Egorov, rector of the Belarus State University of Economics, emphasized the importance of the initiative in improving citizens’ quality of life. He advocated studying and adapting the Chinese economic model to the Eurasian context. The Eurasian Economic Commission also stressed the growing significance of cooperation with China, prioritizing the alignment of strategic documents in transport, logistics, and digitalization.
Fadeev reiterated that the link between the Belt and Road Initiative and the EAEU is a crucial component of the strategic partnership, aligning with Russian ideas for creating an open integration circuit on the Eurasian continent. Kyrgyz economist Iskender Sharsheev added that the alignment enhances the union’s role as a transit hub and expands technological cooperation, facilitating smoother trade corridors from China to Europe.