Buckle Up: The Millennial's Guide to the BRI: Recent Episodes
Bamboo Rock
The Belt and Road Initiative is an intriguing case — it has been around for a while but has never been truly figured out. This is where this show comes in as Enzo Kong chats with bright young minds across continents every week to find out what the BRI has to offer. Whether you want to build your career along the BRI, to listen to the unique story and experiences of our extraordinary guests, or just to catch up with the latest buzz about international trade and politics, this is the podcast for you.
Guest: Yao Xiaolin 姚嘯林 (PhD candidate at the School of International Studies of Peking University) Host: Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy) Show Notes: 00:00 Intro 01:32 China's plan to relieve domestic industrial overcapacity 05:28 Internationalization of RMB and the digital RMB 08:23 Debt-trap diplomacy and the Sri Lanka example 13:05 Lack of materialization of BRI projects 16:17 Australia's withdrawal from the BRI 18:10 Is Build Back Better World a threat for the BRI? 19:59 Young people coming to study in China 13:47 Evolution of the BRI
Guest: Zayed Bennani (Founder and President, Peking University HSBC Business School Student Union) Host: Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy) Show Notes: 00:00 Intro and Africa’s post-COVID recovery plan 13:22 North Africa’s strategic importance 16:08 Morocco’s role in the BRI 18:04 Potential of the Tangier Tech City 22:04 Phosphates and rare earth elements of Morocco 24:24 The largest concentrated solar farm in the world 26:40 Chinese tourists in Morocco 28:35 African youth’s prospects in the BRI
Guest: Anastasija Milkovska (Holder of Master's degree in Economic Development and International Finance) Host: Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy) Show Notes: 00:00 Intro and a bit of history 05:19 EU accession and disputes with Greece and Bulgaria 13:19 What does BRI mean for North Macedonia 16:23 Strategic importance of the 2 Chinese-built highways 24:17 North Macedonia’s sunshine and potential for solar power 29:40 North Macedonia as a tourist spot 32:07 Information asymmetry for companies 38:05 BRI as a bottom-up initiative led by the youth
Guest: Luca Bonadiman (Current JD student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong) Host: Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy) Show Notes: 00:00 Intro and Luca's journey so far 07:49 The Godfather and the historic and cultural ties between Italy and China 11:45 What the BRI means to Italy 23:59 The Port of Trieste deal and the China-EU investment deal 33:20 China's soft power strategy and the potential for the BRI as a bottom-up initiative
Guest: Ivan Piper (PhD student and Teaching Assistant at the University of Donja Gorica) Host: Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy) Show notes: 00:00 Intro, 15 years since independence 05:39 Current administration and EU accession 08:58 Cultural and historical roots of BRI 13:42 Bar-Boljare motorway and debt sustainability 25:53 Chinese donation for reconstruction of Tara bridge 27:29 Attracting Chinese tourists 30:34 Environmental protection and energy projects 33:05 Young people's struggles and exchange opportunities in the far East 38:07 Vaccine diplomacy and Montenegrins' perception towards BRI
Guest: Ana Palazzo (Current Master’s student in Contemporary China Studies in Renmin University, Major in Agriculture by UFV, MBA degree in Marketing by Fundace/USP) Host: Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy) Show Notes: 00:00 Intro and a look back at BRICS 04:24 Innovative financing solutions under BRICS 12:29 Brazil’s agricultural supremacy 17:13 China as a huge customer for Brazilian produce 19:59 Trade war’s impact on Brazilian’s exports 22:41 Potential for Chinese investments in Brazilian agribusiness 28:26 Brazilian manufacturers’ struggles and the much-needed reforms 32:49 Covid’s toll on Brazil 36:16 Brazi’s youth issues 39:45 Ana’s experience of studying in China 41:42 Football exchanges and forecast of the BRI
Guest: Ugne Mikalajunaite (China Studies graduate from Yenching Academy of Peking University) Host: Enzo Kong (Governor, Path of Democracy) Show Notes: 00:00 Intro 01:43 PM Šimonytė and her foreign policy 03:45 Lithuania quitting the BRI, China recalling ambassador amid Lithuania's Taiwan ties 07:59 Port of Klaipėda and the strategic concerns 14:47 A successful deal in the energy sector and dependency on Russia 18:30 Lithuania clashing with Belarus 24:30 Lithuania's tech ambitions 30:46 Brain drain within Lithuania 33:49 'Create Lithuania' and BRI 36:26 Ugne's love for Hong Kong and journey of studying in China 43:03 Advice for saving the China-Lithuania relationship
Guest: JetnorKasmi (Albanian researcher focusing on Asian politics) Host: EnzoKong (Governor, Path of Democracy) Show Notes: 00:00 Intro and Albania travel tips 02:39 PM Rama and EU accession 08:44 Historic Albania-China ties 12:25 The mess in the Tirana International Airport 20:09 Albania's agricultural exports and EU standards 25:51 Albania's ties with the Middle East and the US 29:05 Student protests in 2018/19 35:15 BRI's engagement with the Albanian youth 37:10 Jetnor's experience of studying in Asia 40:38 Improving Albania's public perception of China
Guest: AnekaRebeccaRajbhandari (Political Science graduate from Peking University) Host: EnzoKong (Governor, Path of Democracy) Show Notes: 00:00 Intro and Covid update 04:23 PM Deuba and his pro-India accusations 08:20 Nepal's participation in the BRI 14:17 Trans-Himalayan railway linking Kerung-Kathmandu and Nepal's exports 22:00 Chinese investments in the energy and industrial sectors 29:12 Instability in Nepali domestic politics 31:32 Climate adaptation and green finance 32:46 Issues and opportunities for the Nepali youth 36:18 Aneka's journey so far 41:04 BRI's road ahead and capacity building