New direction in Chinese foreign policy: Belt and Road Initiative

This diploma thesis deals with the key project of Chinese foreign policy - the Belt and Road Initiative. The People's Republic of China is trying to revive the historic Silk Road and its success through this initiative. The initiative has also become the flagship of Xi Jinping's new directions in Chinese foreign policy. The aim of this diploma thesis is to capture the main milestones in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, especially in relation to the Chinese foreign policy; the evaluation of the project and its future, including the reactions of other international relations actors. In the first part, the thesis deals with the theory, i.e. the issue of international relations, foreign policy and the influences that affect it. The second chapter describes the historical Silk Road, strategic importance of the area in which it led, and other selected international projects for its renewal. The third chapter maps the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, the reasons for its origin and its main objectives. The final chapter then evaluates the project in terms of its contribution, threats and other international actors