The Silk Road and the Road of Development / two opposites or complementary in the sustainability of the Iraqi economy

Abstract

Iraq represents a geographical bridge linking the continents of Asia and Europe and between the regions of the Arabian Gulf and the Levant. This means that Iraq is located at the heart of the Belt and Road project because it represents a crossroads of global transportation lines, in addition to being a neighbor to three parties in the Chinese initiative, namely Iran, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the strategic location of Iraq is the main center of the Silk Road that China adopted, but that importance is conditional on the completion of the large port of Al-Faw, which is witnessing lagging progress, Despite the economic, political, social and other positive effects that Iraq may obtain due to its accession to the Silk Road, it will be matched by other proposed projects, including the railway linkage and the dry canal,