China: China: "One Belt, One Road" summit May 14-15

Event

From Sunday, May 14 to Monday, May 15, the "One Belt, One Road" summit will be held at the China National Convention Center (CNCC) and Yanqi Lake International Convention Center in the capital Beijing. Chinese president Xi Jinping and leaders from at least 28 countries are expected to attend the event to discuss China's Silk Road project, a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure investment project aimed at increasing connections between Asia, Africa, and Europe.

There will be traffic restrictions near the venues, with extra security measures and police officers deployed to implement checks near the Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and convention centers.

Context

President Xi Jinping began the Silk Road project in 2013, allocating USD 40 billion on top of USD 100 billion in the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank (AIIB). The AIIB is Chinese-led and will likely direct a significant amount of its funds towards projects related to the Silk Road initiative.

While some in Europe, African, and Asia welcome the projects, others believe it is part of a Chinese strategy for gaining global political influence. China has faced issues with the host countries of such projects, such as public protests against the projects in Sri Lanka and terrorist attacks on project sites by Islamist militants in Pakistan.

Advice

Individuals in Beijing should account for potential travel disruptions near the CNCC, the Yanqi Lake International Convention Center, and the Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Traffic congestion and other disruptions (temporary road closures, etc.) throughout the city are also possible due to the movement of foreign delegations.​