Interactive Map: Follow the Roads, Railways, and Pipelines on China’s New Silk Road

Beijing's multi-billion dollar integration project aims to connect China to Europe with a network of roads, railways, pipelines.

Ethnic Uighurs gather on Id Kah Square after Friday prayer in the nearby  main mosque on August 8, 2008  in Xinjiang's famed Silk Road city of Kashgar in China's far northwestern, mainly Muslim Xinjiang region. Chinese authorities announced stepped up controls on religious figures and potential "trouble-makers" in the Muslim city of Kashgar to guard against attacks on the Beijing Olympics which open today following the deadly attack that killed 16 police officers and a new threat by separatists from China's far northwest Xinjiang region to attack the Games. AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS (Photo credit should read PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images)
Ethnic Uighurs gather on Id Kah Square after Friday prayer in the nearby main mosque on August 8, 2008 in Xinjiang's famed Silk Road city of Kashgar in China's far northwestern, mainly Muslim Xinjiang region. Chinese authorities announced stepped up controls on religious figures and potential "trouble-makers" in the Muslim city of Kashgar to guard against attacks on the Beijing Olympics which open today following the deadly attack that killed 16 police officers and a new threat by separatists from China's far northwest Xinjiang region to attack the Games. AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS (Photo credit should read PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images)
Ethnic Uighurs gather on Id Kah Square after Friday prayer in the nearby main mosque on August 8, 2008 in Xinjiang's famed Silk Road city of Kashgar in China's far northwestern, mainly Muslim Xinjiang region. Chinese authorities announced stepped up controls on religious figures and potential "trouble-makers" in the Muslim city of Kashgar to guard against attacks on the Beijing Olympics which open today following the deadly attack that killed 16 police officers and a new threat by separatists from China's far northwest Xinjiang region to attack the Games. AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS (Photo credit should read PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images)

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kazakhstan on Thursday to solidify new deals for Beijing’s ambitious plan to revive the old Silk Road as a modern-day trade hub. Beijing has already spent billions of dollars on roads, railways, and other infrastructure and intends to invest billions more to connect China to Europe in what it calls the “Silk Road Economic Belt.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Kazakhstan on Thursday to solidify new deals for Beijing’s ambitious plan to revive the old Silk Road as a modern-day trade hub. Beijing has already spent billions of dollars on roads, railways, and other infrastructure and intends to invest billions more to connect China to Europe in what it calls the “Silk Road Economic Belt.”

Xi’s visit comes as other major powers have launched economic integration projects in Eurasia. Russia launched the Eurasian Economic Union in January and the United States is plugging its own infrastructure project, the “New Silk Road.” But Beijing has outshined both countries in investment and execution. Now both Washington and Moscow are trying to hitch their wagons to China’s massive project.

Here at Foreign Policy, we’ve put together an interactive guide tracking Beijing’s victories and obstacles along the new Silk Road. The list of participating countries is still not finalized, but with China forking out billions in trade deals and preferential loans, its appeal as an economic benefactor is only set to grow.

PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images

Reid Standish is an Alfa fellow and Foreign Policy’s special correspondent covering Russia and Eurasia. He was formerly an associate editor. Twitter: @reidstan

Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian is a journalist covering China from Washington. She was previously an assistant editor and contributing reporter at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @BethanyAllenEbr

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