Jamestown Foundation's China Brief, July 2010 July 14, 2010 by
Richard Weitz When Chinese officials consider their
international economic interests, Afghanistan and Central Asia
(sometimes referred to as “Greater Central Asia”) naturally come
to mind. These countries possess an abundant supply of untapped
natural resources, and they offer potential export markets as
well as investment opportunities for the People’s Republic of
China (PRC). Moreover, these territories can provide the conduit
through which the PRC imports and exports goods from and to
other economically important regions of the world. Increasing
the volume and types of goods available from/to China requires
improving the region’s means of transportation, with railroads
representing an important element along with surface roads,
energy pipelines, and shipping by sea and air. Recent
revelations of vast untapped mineral resources in Afghanistan
have undoubtedly peaked Chinese interest in developing rail
connections and related commercial infrastru