Trade | Spencer Low

3Jan/110

Silk Road revival

China reasserting its historical links to the region on its western flank:

Central Asia, says Gen. Liu Yazhou of the People’s Liberation Army, is “the thickest piece of cake given to the modern Chinese by the heavens." New York Times

The 'stans' will be important to Chinese trade with Caspian Sea region and into Europe, but there will be much wariness and hand-wringing by both the local population as well as outside powers. Still, with trade between China and the five Central Asian countries growing from half a billion in 1992 to almost $26B in 2009, the business opportunities are tremendous.