China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a major strategic project designed to serve international trade, geopolitical influence, and economic development objectives. Its implementation has altered the composition of China’s foreign assets, affecting liquidity and revenue indicators. However, the outcomes of these investments have not been as profitable as anticipated, raising questions about their economic efficiency. The BRI’s direct impact on exports and GDP growth has been limited, although it has contributed to diversifying trade routes and reducing geopolitical distances to (...) some extent. From a geopolitical perspective, the BRI has expanded China’s trade partnerships and sphere of influence, achieving positive outcomes, particularly in the Global South. Nonetheless, tensions with Western countries have escalated, occasionally leading to counterproductive results for the initiative. The military implications of the BRI remain in an early stage of evaluation. This article explores how successful the BRI has been in achieving China’s objectives against the backdrop of economic indicators and geopolitical relations. (shrink)

In what way to understand of the idea of freedom is one of the major factors determining world outlook of a society. There are too many concepts of freedom. That kind of differences appears in individual, group and national level. But the major differences appear in perspectives of civilization understanding, in eastern and western world outlook. In eastern approach the idea of freedom is mostly individualistic, idealistic, spiritual one. In comparison with the eastern understanding, in the western thinking realistic and (...) pragmatic concept of freedom has always been prevailed. It stands on difference of philosophical understanding of the world. In the eastern philosophical thought the idea of freedom mostly connected with mental perfection, higher moral-spiritual values, and the understanding of Truth. However, in the western philosophy freedom has been searched in human researches; in realization of his individual ability in scientific, cultural, political, social, economical spheres of life. Seeking freedom both in internal and external world are two extremes of one phenomenon – human freedom. Each of these extremes has some shortages. In a time of dialogue of civilizations it would be very beneficial for ideas to research in a lightof essence of a life of the human being. Mutual understanding of those who carry different ideas and approaches would be essential step for peace and harmony in the world. (shrink)