Introduction

This chapter examines what the Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) represents to China's neighbouring regions beyond its western borders, and how the countries in these regions, and its implementation and subsequent impact. It examines how Russia has received the project, not only because China shares a border with Russia, and Russia is therefore part of the relevant neighbourhood, but also because of the effect China's growing economic influence is having on Russia's traditional sphere of influence in Central Asia. The research had three main objectives. First, it sought to understand China's rationale behind announcing the BRI and how it planned to implement it. Second, the research trips were aimed at gathering information on how stakeholders in the nine neighbouring countries viewed the project. Third, it sought to understand the overall effect of the BRI on China's economic, political, social and security influence in the region.