DISCUSSION FESTIVAL
between the Eurasian Economic Union and the Road & Belt Initiative. However, the actual structure of the EAEU started to work on January 1, 2015 and has not yet gained the necessary tempo of work. With limited financial resources, EAEU does not have sufficient weight to implement the projects.
Major projects Announced High-speed railway Moscow-Beijing One of the top priority projects is the construction of the high-speed railway Moscow - Kazan, with the expansion to the South and the East (Beijing and the Pacific Ocean), and to the West (Rotterdam and the Atlantic Ocean). It is planned that in 2016 high-speed railway from China will reach the border with Kazakhstan. If from Kazan it will be routed through Kazakhstan, then in fact it will essentially limit transportation on the Trans-Siberian and the Baikal-Amur Railway, and this is not beneficial for the Russian side. If it will be pointed through the territory of Siberia, then Kazakhstan will be left unreasonably aside. Most experts believe that the most appropriate is to construct the road in both directions at the same time.
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Arctic zone of the Silk Road The Arctic zone of the Silk Road is one of the most serious and large-scale projects proposed by Russia in the B&R strategy. The Arctic region of Russia currently provides 90% of the Russian nickel and cobalt production, 60% of copper, 96% of platinum-group metals, 80% of gas and 60% of oil and has a great potential for development of new deposits. Chinese companies already actively participate in Arctic projects. One of the largest Chinese companies CNPC joined the “Yamal LNG� project with a share of 20%.
Financial and banking security of the B&R Initiative The creation of a solid financial base testifies that the intentions to implement the B&R Initiative strategy are serious. In a short period of time (2014- 2015) three powerful financial institutions were created: the Silk Road Foundation, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and adjacent the New Development Bank (NDB), formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank. The Silk Road Foundation will play the leading role in these processes. China invested into this Foundation some $40