Dr. Mher Sahakyan presented a new publication on China’s Belt and Road Initiative at CEVRO University

Dr. Sahakyan, the founder of the Routledge Research in Eurasian Geopolitics series and Chairman of the China–Eurasia Council for Political and Strategic Research, presented the key themes of the publication during his lecture. In his presentation, Dr. Sahakyan focused on an in-depth analysis of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the context of the Eurasian continent as a whole, highlighting the geopolitical and economic impacts of this strategy on regional powers and on the transformation of the international system toward multipolarity.

“What distinguishes today’s ‘multipolar world 2.0’ from historical eras is the rise of advanced technologies and cyberspace. Major powers no longer compete solely for spheres of influence in the traditional sense, but increasingly for dominance in the digital domain and control over high-tech supply chains. High-tech sectors now have a decisive impact on geopolitics,” explained Dr. Sahakyan.

“The Eurasian continent needs investment in transport and infrastructure development. Whether it is the Belt and Road Initiative, the European Global Gateway, or other corridors, all projects are welcome if they deliver real investment in regional connectivity. Connectivity is the key to economic development,” Dr. Mher Sahakyan stated during the presentation.

The book, to which Czech experts from CEVRO University, Dr. Jan Železný and Dr. Zdeněk Rod, also contributed as authors, offers a comprehensive perspective on China’s strategic connectivity with Europe and Asia, including topics such as the Digital Silk Road and the Space Silk Road.

“I have been working with Dr. Sahakyan for several years, since our first meeting in Oxford, which led to the publication of a previous volume in the Routledge handbook series. From the very beginning of CAPS, I wished to invite him to CEVRO. Dr. Sahakyan is not only an outstanding expert on the geopolitics of Europe and Asia; above all, through his projects he is able to connect leading academic figures from west to east and from north to south. This creates a highly heterogeneous and stimulating mix of perspectives, which is also reflected in our latest volume. I consider it important that our students and the Czech public have the opportunity to hear views from other parts of the world, shaped by different historical experiences,” added the Director of CAPS, Dr. Jan Železný.

“Dr. Sahakyan is a researcher of exceptional calibre and at the same time a personal inspiration for further academic growth. He is also among the leading experts on China in the field of international relations; scholars of this level are rare in today’s global environment. The publication we had the opportunity to launch, released by the prestigious London-based publisher Routledge, represents a unique collection of texts on China in the context of international relations, security studies, international political economy, and geopolitics. I would especially recommend the book to domestic readers, encouraging them to step outside their local interpretative bubble and explore how China is analysed by leading scholars from around the world,” concluded Dr. Zdeněk Rod, Head of Research at CAPS.

The event, which concluded with an expert discussion moderated by CAPS Director Dr. Jan Železný, confirmed the growing importance of the Eurasian region for contemporary international relations and the global security architecture.