ABSTRACT

The New Silk Road Plan (hereinafter referred to as “this plan”) is a cross-development of regional economy plan initiated by the USA for Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries to integrate the resources in this area for improving its development potential as a transit area between Europe and East Asia. In July 2011, this plan was formally proposed by Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton (secretary of United States Department of State): by relying on the advantage of Afghanistan in the geographical position connecting Central Asia and South Asia, reconstructing various infrastructures and strengthening the economic link between Afghanistan and neighbouring countries, Afghanistan is built into a traffic/trade hub in this area, thereby driving transformation of its domestic economy; after the withdrawal of US troops and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Afghanistan can still realise sustainable development of its national economy and a steady transition of power; with Afghanistan as the centre, an economic circle connecting Central Asia and South Asia is created, and a strategic objective of “Energy going southwards and goods going northwards” is boosted for realisation.