China is also building closer connections with other neighbours and near-neighbours through its investment and trade facilitation projects known as “One Belt One Road” (OBOR), aiming to create a new “silk road” through Central Asia to match the historic trading route, and a similar maritime trading belt. It will take time, but OBOR is bound to add to China’s tally of friends and dependants, especially in Central Asia – which will put it in competition with Russia.
