New Silk Road

22.05.2025

On May 29, 2025, at the Confucius Institute of the University of Padua, a conference will be held to delve into the ambitious chinese project of the "New Silk Road," an initiative aimed at connecting Western Europe with Eastern Asia through an interconnected network of infrastructures.

February 15, 2016, marked a crucial moment in the history of international relations because, after the official announcement by Chinese President Xi Jinping of the infrastructure program in Central Asia, a new era in global connections began, symbolized by the first freight train that crossed Asia towards Tehran, drastically reducing transport times.

The objectives of the proposed conference are to analyze the origins and development of the Belt and Road Initiative with a focus on the "Silk Road Economic Belt," to explore the economic, geopolitical, and social implications of the BRI, discuss the benefits for the regions crossed by the New Silk Road, including urban development and economic opportunities, and assess the risks and challenges such as environmental impact and political uncertainties.

The speaker is David Celetti, a professor of Economic History at the University of Padua, an expert in economic and social history, with a particular focus on China and Eurasia. His research focuses on industrialization, sustainable regional development, and international trade relations.

The conference, free and open to all interested individuals, will be held in English.