The characters combine to mean “One Belt, One Road.” This is a shortening of its two main components: the “Silk Road Economic Belt” (丝绸之路经济带) and the “21st-Century Maritime Silk Road” (21世纪海上丝绸之路). Understanding this is key to grasping the concept.
The “一带一路” initiative is far more than just an economic policy; it's deeply rooted in Chinese history and national identity. By invoking the “Silk Road” (丝绸之路), the government taps into a powerful historical narrative of a glorious past where China was a center of global trade, culture, and peaceful diplomacy. This historical framing presents the BRI not as a new expansionist project, but as a natural revival of historic ties. A useful Western comparison is the Marshall Plan. After World War II, the U.S. launched the Marshall Plan to rebuild Western European economies, fostering political alliances and creating markets for American goods. Similarly, the BRI uses infrastructure development and loans to build economic partnerships and extend China's global influence. However, there are key differences:
For Chinese people, “一带一路” often represents national pride and a tangible sign of China's return to the world stage as a major power.
The term “一带一路” is ubiquitous in official contexts and has filtered into everyday awareness.