The Virtual Silk Road between China and the Arab States

Abstract

Abstract In March 2015, China issued an action plan which described the main objectives of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). As part of the BRI, Beijing launched the Digital Silk Road (DSR) in 2015 with a loose mandate. It has since become a significant part of Beijing’s overall BRI strategy, under which China provides aid, political support, and other assistance to recipient states. In June 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the sixth session of the ministerial meeting of the China–Arab States Cooperation Forum. During the meeting, Xi put forward the strategic concept of China–Arab cooperation mode as ‘1 + 2 + 3,’ with the ‘3’ including nuclear energy, aerospace and satellite technology and new energy. The two sides have agreed on the establishment of the China–Arab Centre for Technology Transfer, the construction of training centres for Arabian countries peaceful use of nuclear energy, and research on the use of China’s Beidou Navigation Satellite system in the Arab states. in Tunisia in April 2018. This paper will review the collaboration of China and the Arab states to implement a positive model of technological development and digital connectivity. Further, the ICT development of the Arab states in comparison to China will be investigated to explain changes observed in the countries ICT Exports.