China’s Belt and Road Initiative (Appenzeller/Hecher/Sack)
Marco Rubio has been in Central Asia:
Rubio Trip Highlights US Push For Deeper Ties With Central Asia
October 20, 2026
SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed Uzbekistan on October 20 for India after meetings with all five Central Asian countries, wrapping up a visit aimed at expanding Washington’s economic and diplomatic engagement with a region increasingly intent on shaping its own international partnerships.
Rubio’s visit to the historic Silk Road city of Samarkand brought together the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. He also met Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev and attended a US-Uzbekistan business council event alongside a delegation of nearly 300 American business leaders. https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-central-asia-deeper-ties-russia-china/33880100.html
Central Asia is interested in investments from the USA and elsewhere.
China and the European Union have been working on infrastructure in those regions.
Here are some reports related to China:
NANJING, China, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A report from JiangsuNow.
The 2026 Belt and Road Journalists Forum convened on Oct. 17 in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, highlighting the pivotal role of journalists and media leaders worldwide in furthering Belt and Road cooperation and advancing global governance.
Under the theme “Convergence and Connectivity•Innovation and Progress•Media Transformation amid Global Changes,” the event brought together nearly 100 journalists and representatives of journalists’ organizations from over 50 countries and regions for in-depth exchanges. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2026-belt-and-road-journalists-forum-opens-in-nanjing-driving-global-media-consensus-302912733.html
October 20, 2026
As the birthplace of the Belt and Road Initiative, Central Asia has long been viewed as a testing ground for China’s overseas ambitions. A conventional narrative often portrays the region as a passive object of Beijing’s economic and political gravity. But what is happening on the ground in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan reveals a more dynamic interaction, where local regulations, public sentiment, and state bargaining power can and do compel Chinese state-owned enterprises, private investors, and diplomats to adapt. https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2026/09/how-local-agency-reshapes-chinas-influence-in-central-asia-and-beyond
Here is a report related to the European Union and its Global Gateway project:
Maximizing the Impacts of the Global Gateway in Central Asia by Linking Infrastructure, Skills, and Mobility
October 19, 2026
Launched in 2021, the Global Gateway is the EU’s flagship external investment strategy. In Central Asia alone, the EU has committed €22 billion, including a €12 billion package announced at the April 2025 Samarkand Summit. Building, operating, and maintaining these infrastructure investments will stimulate economic development in Central Asia. Yet there is an opportunity to unlock even greater development gains, through linking these investments with skills development and labor mobility. This logic is not specific to Central Asia: it applies across Global Gateway partner regions, such as Africa, where large infrastructure investments coincide with young, fast-growing workforces. In countries that are also sources of migration to the EU, skills partnerships could complement efforts to create skilled jobs at home. https://www.cgdev.org/blog/maximizing-impacts-global-gateway-central-asia-linking-infrastructure-skills-and-mobility
Europe has NOT intended to sit completely on the sidelines watching China take concrete steps alone. The EU also wants to have connections into Asia. But it has been moving slower than China on such infrastructure projects. Yet, it is actually pursuing them.
The USA may still provide financing, but both China and the EU are actually connecting with Central Asia.
Related to the ‘Global Gateway,’ the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:
EU’s Global Gateway, Trade, and War?
The European Union announced that it planned to spend €300 billion ($340 billion) in a program called ‘Global Gateway.’ According to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen it is a “true alternative” to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, also known as the Silk Road Project. Both the EU and Chinese projects will improve road, ports, and/or other infrastructure to connect with Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Will this result in increased trade for Europe and Asia during the time of the Gentiles? Will Babylonian Europe dominate trade for a time? Will devastating war hit Europe with Russian and Eurasian involvement? Would infrastructure these projects are involved in be used for war? What about preparation for Armageddon? Dr. Thiel address these issues and cites biblical prophecies related to these matters.
Here is a link to our video: EU’s Global Gateway, Trade, and War?
The Chinese government, itself, has a practical long-term plan to connect many parts of the world. This is a basically plan for China, Russia, and others in Asia to be able to thrive without having to bow to the West.
BRI, BRICS+, EAEU, and SCO are Gentile organizations–and the EU is mainly a Gentile organization. Jesus spoke of the final times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24) and we see steps among the Gentiles to coordinate their trade etc.
Russia and Europe are part of the Belt and Road Initiative, but the highly indebted USA is not (though it claims it wants to provide some support to the Global Gateway project it has not actually authorized anything of substance to do so that I am aware of).
The EU Global Gateway project is ambitious. It is intended to help ensure, that it, and not China or the USA will gain dominance throughout Europe, Africa, and Asia–and also Latin America.
Furthermore, unlike the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (aka the Silk Road project), the European one also involves infrastructure around data and communications technology.
The Bible shows that economically as the “daughter of Babylon” Europe will rise up in this century–(cf. Revelation chapters 17 & 18)–and this Global Gateway project is a step in that direction.
Since the Bible teaches that it will be Europe that will dominate world trade, the BRI and Europe’s Global Gateway look to be ways that Europe will get access to markets in Asia and Africa. Roads work both ways. Furthermore, Europe has a long history of trading with Asia and Latin America and is biblically prophesied to continue to do so.
Consider that the Bible teaches the following about an end time European power:
2 … Babylon … 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury. (Revelation 18:2,3)
The above is referring to the fact that nations of the world are prophesied to get wealthy trading with end time Babylon, which will be a European entity.
The Chinese and Europeans are building infrastructure in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. This will facilitate trade in both directions and make Europe and Asia less dependent on trade with the USA.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel. Here is a link to a version of this article in Spanish: ¿Prueban los caracteres chinos la exactitud de la Biblia?
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon? A YouTube video of interest may be Is China THE Threat to the United States of America?
Is China paving roads to Armageddon? China is working on something known as the ‘Silk Road’ project or the “One Belt, One Road” initiative. NBC reports that China intends to spend one trillion dollars to build roads, bridges, railroads, and maritime facilities to reach from China to Europe and China to the Middle East. Over 60 nations, including Russia, are involved with this. Could this Silk Road project possibly produce thoroughfares that could be used by troops that will amass at Armageddon? Dr. Thiel discusses this project and some of its potential prophetic ramifications in this video.
Armageddon Who is involved and when will this gathering happen? Here is also a video from Dr. Thiel, from Tel Megiddo in Israel: Armageddon. Other videos include: Armageddon Will it come on Trump’s watch?, Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy, Freemasonry, Armageddon, and Rome, Is China paving roads to Armageddon?, and Jordan, Petra, and Armageddon.
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
The Times of the Gentiles Has there been more than one time of the Gentiles? Are we in it now or in the time of Anglo-America? What will the final time of the Gentiles be like? A related sermon is available and is titled: The Times of the Gentiles.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? See also EU’s Global Gateway, Trade, and War?