The Bosphorus Energy Club is organising a major Roundtable on China’s Silk Road Initiative: Implications for Central Asia, Caucasus, Turkey and Europe on 12 October 2015 in London in collaboration with Windsor Energy Group and Turkish Embassy.

12 October 2015, from 15:30 pm, at Turkish Ambassador’s Residence (69 Portland Place, W1B 1QS, London). Attendance is by invitation only.

Background

This is a major development strategy and framework, proposed by China that focuses on connectivity and co-operation among countries primarily in Eurasia. It consists of two main components, the land-based “Silk Road Economic Belt” and ocean-going “Maritime Silk Road”, promoted sinceSeptember 2013.

As part of its strategic ambitions, Beijing wants to create such a colossal infrastructure network through Central Asia, Middle East and Turkey to Europe in order to connect with high value markets while also expanding its own economic and political influence in Eurasia. It is the most significant and far-reaching project the nation has ever put forward, having domestic and foreign policy implications for all the countries along the ancient Silk Road.

China hopes that its annual trade volume with belt and road countries will exceed $2.5 trillion in a decade or so. Together, the Silk Road economic belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road to Africa and the Pacific cover 65 countries on three continents and 4.4 billion people. Infrastructure construction will likely drive development that can pave the ground for greater economic co-operation, also enhancing mutual security dependence.

The funds made available for this Initiative have aroused considerable appetite among financiers and project developers. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank founded by China with the participation of 56 other countries is dedicated to lending for projects in this region. China also announced plans to create a $40 billion development fund. In November 2014 to invest in businesses rather than lend money for projects.

Although this Initiative has been much talked about for the past two years, many governments and business groups have understood little. Hence, there is a pressing need to deepen understanding of what’s at stake, benefits and risks for all stakeholders involved this way or another.

Prompted by this need, The Bosphorus Energy Club (www.bosphorusenergyclub.org) and The Windsor Energy Group have joined forces in co-organising a roundtable discussion in London on the various aspects of the Initiative under the hostship of the Turkish Ambassador Abdurrahman Bilgic.

Programme

15.30                  Arrival of guests, registration and networking

Deliberations will be moderated by Mehmet Öğütçü, Chairman, Bosphorus Energy Club, with Q/A after each session.

16:00-16:40     Setting the scene: What does this Initiative stand for?

• Abdurrahman Bilgic, Ambassador, Republic of Turkey
• David Howell, Baron Howell of Guildford, Chairman, Windsor Energy Group, and former Secretary of State for Energy
• Liu Xiaoming, Ambassador, People’s Republic of China (tbc)
• Erzhan Kazykhanov, Ambassador, Republic of Kazakhstan

16:40-17:40      Panel of experts: What are the difficulties and opportunities in implementation?

• (tbd) Chinese company and government executives
• Michal Meidan, Director, China Matters
• Aida Sitdikova, Director, Energy and Natural Resources, Russia, Caucasus and Central Asia, EBRD
• Dame Fiona Woolf, former Lord Mayor
• Ian Walker, Managing Director, MEC

17:40-18:00     Q/A and key messages to governments and businesses

18:00                 Reception

Windsor Energy Group (WEG) and the Bosphorus Energy Club (BEC)

The Bosphorus Energy Club is an exclusive membership-only gathering of the key shakers and movers in the energy, finance and geopolitical world of Eurasia, China, the MENA, the Gulf and Southeast Europe.

The Club, as a low profile but strong influence gathering of the energy world, provides an exclusive platform to consider energy, infrastructure and investment needs, share strategic knowledge, power network, develop innovative solutions, and help reduce geopolitical tensions. It also acts as a Track-II energy diplomacy channel where so requested.

Its influential network, strategic intelligence, early warning signals and engagements are only available to and can be tapped for the benefit of the Club members. Attendance to its year-long events, exclusive meetings, ad hoc activities and annual summit is by-invitation-only.

www.bosphorusenergyclub.org

The Windsor Energy Group (WEG) is an MEC working group that addresses global energy issues and challengesthrough discussion and analysis involving senior figures from the public and private sectors.  Membership is by annual subscription.

WEG provides a framework for an exchange of views on strategic energy matters of the day.  This is achieved through a bi-monthly programme of studies assessing developments on a regional and global basis and expert round-tables.

The Group meets annually in Windsor Castle for a two-day consultation and consideration of the discussions of the year. WEG offers occasional briefings and meetings with similar bodies in Europe, North America and the Middle East.

List of participants: