Railway workers prepare the first train for departure from Shijiazhuang, China to Moscow in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. The launch of the China Railway Express China-Europe line is part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Photo: EPA

Opinion

Raffaello Pantucci

Why developing countries can’t resist joining China’s massive infrastructure plan

Raffaello Pantucci writes that Beijing’s offer of investment and a connection to a regional ‘balancing force’ is tough to pass up for poor nations with few options

Raffaello Pantucci

Published: 10:00pm, 7 Jul, 2018

Updated: 10:05pm, 7 Jul, 2018

Railway workers prepare the first train for departure from Shijiazhuang, China to Moscow in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province. The launch of the China Railway Express China-Europe line is part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Photo: EPA

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Raffaello Pantucci

Raffaello Pantucci is director of international security studies at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London. His work focuses on terrorism, counter-terrorism and China's Eurasian relations. He is founder of China in Central Asia (www.chinaincentralasia.com) and most of his work can be found at www.raffaellopantucci.com. He spends a good portion of his time traversing the Eurasian continent seeking understanding about the new continental dynamics.