| Summary: | At the beginning of the 21st century, the Maritime Silk Road is the equivalent of the ancient Silk Road, most of the commercial traffic being transported by sea. The Chinese presidency uses the phrase „the 21st century Maritime Silk Road“ in relation to and as part of the BRI project. It implies for China massive investments in the creation of a network of ports, industrial parks and special economic zones in places like Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Djibouti and the coast of East Africa. Global warming will make the Arctic Route through the Arctic Ocean along the coast of Siberia navigable cost-effectively. In 2018, China developed a strategy aimed at a more important role in the Arctic area, primarily the exploitation of mineral resources and the development of a new maritime route to Europe. It is estimated that the Polar Maritime Silk Road Route could reduce significantly the time and transport costs of sea commerce between Asia and Europe.
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