From the Chinese point of view, and the Chinese restarted it, one has to see that although the name is “One road, One belt” in fact there are three main roads (each with many deviations) mainly North of the Caspian Sea, through Russia, south of the Caspian Sea and by sea. The Chinese are clear that they can’t put all the apples in the Russian basket (although Russia being there will get some), nor in the Middle east or in the sea lanes. Russia needs to be involved, but so does India — and the US that is in the sea lanes in Central Asia and the Middle East.
In the year 2000, I edited a volume with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences http://temi.repubblica.it/limes-heartland/a-new-silk-road/745 On the issue, I don’t think it is in China interest to be in the hands of the Russia for the Silk Road, and it should not be in the interest of Russia to try to overstep their side of the “One Belt”
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