28th April, 2015

Dear Readers,

Current affairs forms an important component of several competitive exams such as the UPSC Civil Services Examination, SSC CGL, Bank PO & PSU entrance tests, etc. Therefore, understanding terms/concepts/events that are in the news is critical for aspirants. We at PaGaLGuY bring you this series of articles in which we shall explain some of these important concepts/events for you.

In this article we are discussing China’s ambitious MSR project. China has marched ahead in its major project of integrating Mongolia’s Steppe Road (Prairie Road) initiative and Russia’s transcontinental rail plan to its ambitious Silk Road Land Corridor. It is looking forward to develop the China-Mongolia-Russia (CMR) economic corridor to create new opportunities in Eurasia under the “Belt and Road” projects.

        Mongolia’s geographical position is unique as it is situated between Russia and China. ‘The Steppe Road’, an infrastructure project aims to boost the country’s economy through trans-border transportation. The project includes a 997-km highway connecting China and Russia and a 1,100-km electrified railway stretch. It also includes expansion of the existing Mongolian rail system and construction of natural gas and oil pipelines.

      Russia’s transcontinental rail line was built from 1891 to 1916 connecting hundreds of large and small cities of the European and Asian parts of Russia. The Trans-Siberian line remains the most important transport link within Russia. Around 30% of Russian exports travel on this line. 

China is taking initiatives to create lateral cooperation for regional rail interconnectivity. It has already proposed to Integrate India’s ‘Spice Route’ and ‘Mausam’ projects within Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM). The Indian government launched the Mausam project in 2010, aiming to re-establish India’s ancient maritime network with its trade partners in and along the Indian Ocean. Similarly, India’s Spice Route refers to the ancient network of sea routes that linked Asia, Europe and Africa. India with its geographical location and large coastline has a natural dominance over various trade routes in the ocean. China is now collaborating with India to merge India’s maritime plans with its ambitious MSR (Maritime Silk Route) project. MSR is one of China’s ‘Belt & Road’ projects, which aims at connecting the country with Europe and Africa by road and sea to increase Chinese influence and economic growth.

      Also, China has been working on developing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The aim is to connect Gwadar Port in southwestern Pakistan to China’s northwestern autonomous region of Xinjiang, via a network of highways, railways and pipelines, to transport oil and gas. 

          MSR is an ambitious framework for China’s future geo-political strategy in the eastern hemisphere. The country will merge above mentioned economic corridors, partner countries and their potential to create a giant infrastructure that will shift the future economy and diplomacy in the region.