China releases ‘One Belt One Road’ maritime initiatives

Plans regarding Arctic shipping, port alliances and marine security are laid out in the maritime initiatives released on Tuesday.    The Chinese government has released a document titled “Vision for Maritime Cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative,” in which the country lays out plans for its 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, state news agency Xinhua reported Tuesday.
   According to the document, China plans to focus on “building the China-Indian Ocean-Africa-Mediterranean Sea Blue Economic Passage, by linking the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor, running westward from the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean, and connecting the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC).”
   The document also states the nation plans to increase efforts in building a route into the South Pacific and to Europe via the Arctic Ocean.
   Several environmental standards are discussed as well, including China-ASEAN cooperation for marine environmental protection and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Blue Carbon Program.
   Trade will be enhanced through strengthening information infrastructure, port alliances, maritime security and Arctic affairs, according to the document.
   China has cooperated on many agreements under the One Belt One Road initiative recently, including rail lines to Europe, port links and loans.