On June 18, the Valdai Discussion Club and the Russia-24 TV Channel held television debates entitled "Silk Road and Greater Eurasia: Politics, Economy, Infrastructure" within the framework of SPIEF-2015.

       The problem of Eurasia's development is an exceptionally topical subject of the 21st century, the century of globalization and complicated geopolitical processes.

       The Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) should become one of the consolidation keystones. However, such complicated project requires a thoughtful analysis of all pros and cons. The latest report of the Valdai Discussion Club "Toward the Great Ocean - 3: Creating Central Eurasia" was made for this specific goal.

       "The Valdai Club report means that our initiative "One Belt, One Road" is understood correctly. It is an economic process. The initiative is very promising because it corresponds to the interests of our neighbors," - says Li Yongquan, Director of Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, CASS.

       Experts from the East and from the West t discussed problems of Eurasia development. Russia was represented by Andrei Bystritsky, Chairman of the Board, Foundation for the Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club; Tatiana Valovaya, Member of the Board – Minister, Development of Integration and Macroeconomics, Eurasian Economic Commission; Konstantin Kuzovkov, Vice President for Investments and Development, FESCO Transportation Group. Experts from China and Kazakhstan were also present: Li Yongquan, Director, Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Jonathan Woetzel, Senior Partner, Director of the Shanghai Office, McKinsey & Company; Rakhim Oshakbayev, Deputy Chairman of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan. Franco Frattini, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy, also took part in the discussion.

       "European integration should continue its development, albeit not in isolation. The policy of sanctions is counterproductive. It is necessary to open the gates and demolish the walls," - said Franco Frattini.

       Experts asked what the Silk Road project means: "a Union of Unions" or "a barrel full of contradictions". How can the SREB be balanced within economies of European and Asian states? Can third parties, for example, USA or Japan, hinder the realization of the project? There are no unambiguous answers.

       The key question was whether the idea designed for the country’s domestic demand can unite a whole continent? Andrei Bystritsky, Chairman of the Board, Foundation for the Development and Support of the Valdai Discussion Club, said that it was possible to establish the Central Asian identity.

       As for Russia, the special attention to the Eastern and the Southern foreign affairs and economic policy became one of the most significant signs of the country's regaining status of a superpower. Meanwhile the turn to the East, development of a new model of foreign economic relations does not mean withdrawal from Europe or substitution of Russia's presence in European markets with Chinese ones. The Silk Road Economic Belt should become an incentive for infrastructure development of the Russian regions, for example, East Siberia.

       "Silk Road Economic Belt is not just transit-transport project, it is a comprehensive plan for the economic development of several states... The development covers not only western regions China, but the whole center of Eurasia. The biggest obstacle is the bias that people have in their heads. The history of the Silk Road has enormous prospects for business. Integrating the region [Central Eurasia] into the world market is exceptionally important!" - emphasized Konstantin Kuzovkov, Vice President for Investments and Development, FESCO Transportation Group.

       Views expressed are of individual Members and Contributors, rather than the Club's, unless explicitly stated otherwise.