The New Silk Road, Part 2: From Kyrgyzstan to Duisburg | DW Documentary
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Published 2019-07-20
China's path to global power leads through the legendary trade road. Our authors travel west on two separate paths: One team follows the sea route, along which China is expanding its support bases, while the other follows the ancient Silk Road through Central Asia. Their journey takes them through stunning landscapes and to magical places with ancient caravanserais, where the lore of the old Silk Road lives on. At the same time, they observe China’s overwhelming new influence in immense construction sites and shipping hubs. People everywhere are hoping the new trade will bring them and their children work and prosperity, just as the old Silk Road did hundreds of years ago. But others fear that a future dominated by China will bring them no good at all. "Clean water, the mountains and nature are much more important than the money they give us," the filmmakers learn in Kyrgyzstan. Chinese investment has not only bestowed the country with better roads, power lines and railway lines, but also with environmental pollution, corruption and crippling debt. Oman is another stop on the line, where Beijing has taken over large parts of a new Special Economic Zone in the desert city of Duqm. You can still see traditional Arab dhows in the old harbor at Sur, but they no longer have a place in today’s international trade. Instead, the horizon is dotted with huge container ships, many of them flying the Chinese flag. Meanwhile, the French port city of Marseille is aiming to become the New Silk Road’s European bridgehead. A small container village in the hills above the city is the first step. Cheap textiles from the Far East are delivered here to the "Marseille International Fashion Center”. MIF 68 for short - 68 is considered a lucky number in China - is geared towards distributing China’s products throughout Europe. The two-part documentary shows the breathtaking dimensions of this gigantic project - one where, it would seem, no stone will be left unturned.
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All Comments (21)
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"We don't need gold. We need clean water". No truer words have been spoken.
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DW has some of the most insightful documentaries available. I personally am really grateful that this type of content is available at no charge, we all should be. Keep up the great work guys.
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Even after all those lessons from history about power and conquest and destruction of local cultures, no one learns. Greed wins. Thanks for these documentaries DW.
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Dw always deliver high quality content, hats of to all involved on this. Excellent documentary
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I've watched a lot of your documentaries. Thanks DW for broadening my understanding of the world
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I love the story of the falconer. His falcon is amazing.
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I love DW. These documentaries don't demonize China, but takes arguments from both side and let's you decide what's good/bad.
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Your documentaries are a blessing. Greetings from the Philippines.
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I really appreciated this documentary. I have heard a lot about the belt and road initiative, but seeing it in person and the effects it has on people in it's path was a new take on it I had not considered.
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Can't help noticing the 2 camels hitching a ride on the truck...talk about progress....
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A very informative documentary. I never get to see this information on the UK news channels!
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Thank you so much DW Documentary team for such awesome episodes. Gratitude from Central India.
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China's move on the West is definitely an outstanding documentary! I truly did appreciate it so much. Thanks a lot for sharing! Keep it up!
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Fascinating journey with all its pros and cons of a modern silk road
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China bravo ! Going the way of trade instead of war and sanctions . Best regards from South East Asia, and best wishes to all the countries along the trade route. May you prosper and have peace.
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It’s obvious this was done before Covid.....I’d love for DW to re-doing this documentary. It was very insightful.
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Very good journalism. Keep up the good work.
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This is the type of content I would definitely pay for. Informative and really not bias in any way. I love The dw docus!
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A very insightful documentary! Neutral journalism. Really liked it.
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Informative and beautiful documentary ✨. Very thank you DW.
