THE GREAT SILK ROAD BECOMES THE GREAT OIL AND GAS ROAD

Abstract

The Great Silk Road (GSR) called so in the late 19^th century by German geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen started shaping in the 2^nd century B.C. In the minds of peoples the Silk Road is a generalized symbol of trade caravan routes crossing Central Asia, connecting until the 16^th century the Far East, in particular Japan, China, with Middle Asia. Appearance in the early 21^st century of new independent states in Central Asia along the GSR route was a powerful impetus for revival of the ancient trade route. In September 2013 Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, during his visit to the Central Asian countries offered the strategic concept of joint construction of the “economic corridor along the Silk Road” based on innovative cooperation in order to revive and consolidate the economic contacts among the Eurasian countries. Establishment of the modern analog of GSR, a powerful transport and pipeline corridor includes the integrated system of railroads and automobile roads, oil and gas pipelines, airlines, and sea lines.