Russian media laments: The Silk Road is no longer the same "Silk Road"!

Today, it has become a comprehensive ecosystem.

On May 8, Russian media outlet "China Today" published an article.

China is no longer content with being merely the "world's factory," but aims to become a major logistics, technology, and investment hub across Eurasia.

China is strengthening its influence in Pakistan, Turkey, and post-Soviet states in Central Asia.

Turkey’s Minister of Trade released April foreign trade statistics that stunned Western partners.

In the first quarter of 2026, China officially became Turkey’s top import source—imports exceeding $13 billion. In contrast, Russia, long competing for the top spot in Turkey’s market, trailed by nearly $4 billion.

Moreover, China provides stable supplies of high-tech equipment, industrial components, and affordable consumer goods to Turkey.

If Turkey represents China’s new success story, then Pakistan is its strategic stronghold.

Pakistan is becoming China’s southern gateway to the Indian Ocean, enabling Beijing to fully eliminate the threat of a maritime blockade by the United States at the Strait of Malacca.

The “Golden Corridor” of Xinjiang: Air expansion toward Kyrgyzstan.

Foreign trade is not just numbers on customs declarations—it is physical connectivity between territories.

This week, a seemingly local event carried profound strategic significance: direct flights were launched between Kashgar, China, and Osh, Kyrgyzstan.

The EU3055 flight operated by China’s newest C909 passenger aircraft marks a new era in relations between Xinjiang and Central Asia.

Previously, traveling by road from Kashgar to Osh took 10–12 hours; now, this distance can be covered in just one hour.

Using the C909 (formerly ARJ21) aircraft on international routes is part of China’s broader strategy to advance its aviation industry.

China is demonstrating to neighboring countries: we don’t just build roads—we also provide reliable, domestically produced air transport services.

Osh is Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city and a historic hub along the Silk Road. Today, China views it as a gateway connecting China with Central Asia, South Asia, and even the Middle East.

In 2026, China’s expansion in Asia has evolved significantly.

If ten years ago the Belt and Road Initiative was seen primarily as a large-scale railway construction project, today it has transformed into the creation of an integrated ecosystem.

In China, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, China is not only building factories but also establishing educational centers (“Luban Workshops”), promoting 5G digital communication standards, and developing e-commerce.

The direct Kashgar–Osh flight not only facilitates business travel but also promotes cultural exchange, tourism, and most importantly, enables rapid transportation of high-tech goods.

Chengdu Airlines, using Kashgar as a hub, plans to further expand its network of flights to cities across Central Asia.

This means the region is gradually integrating into a unified transportation network with China, allowing for smoother cross-border movement of goods and investments.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864569067094099/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.