by Tomasz Nguyen-Xuan, Branch Manager, CIL Freight Poland

Ever since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was launched in 2013, the driving idea has been to fill the infrastructure gap between China and its trading partners throughout the Asia Pacific, Africa, and East-Central Europe.

A brainchild of the Chinese President Xi Jinping, enormous investments have started unrolling, including rail transport projects such as the New Silk Road.

While it's true that China has other reasons to invest so heavily in the BRI - let's call it extending its sphere of influence - it's also about maximizing the country's independence logistics-wise, along with encouraging international trade in these economically turbulent times.

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