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How to trade world markets?

Is it possible in the near future to re-open the Silk Route and establish trade routes via transcontinental rail and road link across Eurasia connecting China-India to Europe-Russia?

  • I understand that it won't play as big a role in world economy's future as previously did (since our knowledge of the extent of the world has increased), but nevertheless, don't you think this could act as a catalyst to calming down Central Asia and reigniting their markets and taking the region back to it's pre-Islamic state of trade, cultural exchange and prosperity.

  • Answer:

    The straightest and flattest route between Europe and China passes through only the lightly populated northeast fringe of Central Asia. From http://gcmap.com: Berlin-Moscow-Astana-Urumqi-Xi'an route passes north of Lake Balkhash: from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/guides/456900/456938/html/nn2page1.stm Try to find the region north of Balkhash on these other maps:

Joseph Boyle at Quora Visit the source

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It already exists as a set of rail and road links.  Being expanded all the time.  And an important part of the work of the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Cooperation_Organisation.   The historic Silk Road was also more of a link to West Asia, Persia and indirectly to India and to Europe.  (The direct link from China to India via the Tibetan Plateau looks easier on the map but was vastly harder before roads were built into Tibet.)   In the modern world, there are better alternatives.  People mostly fly.  Many goods are shipped, and the melting of the Arctic has made shorter routes possible.

Gwydion Madawc Williams

There are already freight trains between China and Germany: http://www.dbschenker.com/ho-en/news_media/press/news/2556446/china_train.html

Raymond Smith

In 2015 there were over 800 container trains servicing China-Europe main routes, via Trans- Siberian and Trans-Kazakhstan rail networks, and the number of regular trains is expected to increase. A comprehensive article is available on http://www.think-railways.com/innovations-investments-behind-china-europe-rail-freight-transport/

Cristina Trifon

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