The New Silk Road: How a Rising Arab World is Turning Away from the West and Rediscovering China

by Ben Simpfendorfer

The rise of the Arab world and China are part of the same story, once trading partners via the Silk Road. It isn't a coincidence that Arab traders have returned to China at the same time that China is fast regaining its share of the global economy. This is a breakthrough account of how China is spurring growth in the Arab world.

Genres: China, Nonfiction, Business, Asia, Middle East

207 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Ben Simpfendorfer is Founder and Managing Director of Silk Road Associates, a strategy consultancy based in Hong Kong with offices in Beijing and Melbourne. Ben assists multinationals and mid-market firms develop their business strategies in Asia and the Middle East. He was the former Chief China Economist for RBS and Senior China Economist for JPMorgan.

Ben has spent 20 years working in Asia and the Middle East. He is based in Hong Kong, but previously lived in Beijing, Beirut, and Damascus. He is also a Mandarin, Cantonese, and Arabic speaker. Ben writes a regular column for FT.com's beyondbrics and features on CNBC and Bloomberg. He is the bestselling author of "The Rise of the New East" (Palgrave, 2014) and "The New Silk Road" (Palgrave, 2009).

Reviews

[Anandh Sundar · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a slew of China book written by WASP(White Anglo Saxon Protestants)-it is refreshing to have a book written by a person who understands both Arabic and Chinese-and thus can read their media/interact with their laypersons much better than others. Any oil trader would know that the China-Middle East nexus can affect oil, security, trade etc. By putting this in perspective, Ben really does a service to the knowledge bank out there. Despite the passage of 2 yrs from the time this book was written, the book still rings true.

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book. It presented good information for thought in relationship to a rapidly globalizing world. I would recommend that young business professionals read this, but it is also useful for anyone who is teaching AP Human Geography, or International Relations.

[Hans Westermeyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read. It does get a little repetitive as you go through each chapter and the conclusion of each is the same.

[Tim Knox]

Very interesting read on how the tide of commerce is shifting from US to East Asia to Middle East to East Asia. or some BRIC o Brac.