NEW SILK ROAD AND ITS IMPACT ON CROATIAN ECONOMY

Narodna Republika Kina najveća je država na svijetu po broju stanovnika, drugo po veličini svjetsko gospodarstvo i kao veliki svjetski izvoznik i uvoznik bitno utječe na globalno gospodarstvo i gospodarska kretanja. Kinesko gospodarstvo nekad je bilo sinonim za jeftine proizvode široke potrošnje, tekstilnu industriju i industriju obuće, dok se danas kineska ekonomija sve više orijentira na proizvodnju složenijih proizvoda i trudi se promijeniti imidž proizvođača robe niske kvalitete. Kineski gospodarski rast na početku 21. stoljeća iznosio je prosječno više od 10% godišnje, zbog čega Kina postaje sve veća konkurencija ostalim svjetskim gospodarstvima te se u ovom stoljeću kinesko gospodarstvo pretvara u sve ozbiljnijeg konkurenta u očima zapadnih zemalja. Nakon ekonomske krize 2008., Kina je svijetu novom razvojnom idejom htjela predložiti novi ekonomski i razvojni model. Pojas i put odnosno Novi put svile, kako ga često zovu u Hrvatskoj, golem je transportni, infrastrukturni, strateški i promocijski pothvat. Inicijativa je predstavljena 2013. godine te je predložena zajednička izgradnja ekonomskog pojasa na tragovima starog Puta svile. Ideja je započela kao regionalna azijska transportna inicijativa i ubrzo je prerasla u velik transkontinentalni, globalni plan povezivanja Kine s Europom, Jugoistočnom Azijom i Latinskom Amerikom, kopnenim i pomorskim pravcima. Osim što bi trebala povezati zapadni, slabije razvijeni dio Kine s Euroazijom i Jugom Azije te potaknuti lokalni gospodarski razvoj, inicijativa bi povećati kompletnu svjetsku trgovinu, posebice trgovinu brojnih drugih članica Puta svile, računajući i Republiku Hrvatsku.The People's Republic of China is the largest country in the world in terms of population, the world's second largest economy, and as a major world exporter and importer, it has a significant impact on the global economy and economic developments. Chinese economy was once synonym for cheap consumer goods as well as textile and footwear industries however nowdays China’s economy is increasingly focused on manufacturing more complex products and trying to change the image of low-quality goods manufacturer. China's economic growth at the beginning of the 21st century averaged more than 10% a year, which is why China is becoming increasingly competitive with other world economies. In this century, the Chinese economy is turning into a growing fear of Western countries. After the 2008 economic crisis, China wanted to propose its economic and developmental model to the world. The Belt and Road, or New Silk Road, as it is often called in Croatia, is a huge transportational, infrastructural, strategic and promotional venture. The initiative was unveiled in 2013 and proposed the joint construction of an economic belt along the tracks of the old Silk Road. The idea began as regional Asian transport initiative but soon grew into a major transcontinental, global plan to connect China to Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America, land and sea. In addition to linking the western, less developed part of China with Euroasia and the South of Asia. All that was to stimulate local economic development as well as increase world trade and connect many other members of the Silk Road, including the Republic of Croatia