Host Mustafa Alrawi was at the IISS' Bahrain Bay Forum in Manama this week where he heard lively and insightful debate on the impact of China's ambitions for a new silk road for global trade links and infrastructure. Leading expert on the topic, Professor Lanxin Xiang, explains what the Belt and Road Initiave is and Gulf-based economist Omar Al Ubaydli discusses why China's approach has been so successful in this region. <strong>Listen to more:</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/podcasts/business-extra-podcast-episode-35-property-developers-in-buoyant-mood-and-why-investor-relations-matter-1.628303">Business Extra Podcast episode 35: Property developers in buoyant mood and why investor relations matter</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/business/business-extra-podcast-episode-34-ensuring-the-uae-s-digital-economy-booms-1.626283">Business Extra Podcast episode 34: ensuring the UAE's digital economy booms</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/business-extra-podcast-episode-33-everything-we-know-about-vat-1.624503">Business Extra Podcast episode 33: Everything we know about VAT</a></strong> _____________ <strong>Read more:</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/china-to-strengthen-uae-saudi-arabia-ties-for-belt-and-road-initiative-1.627145" style="">China to strengthen UAE, Saudi Arabia ties for Belt and Road Initiative</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/uae-to-benefit-from-china-s-one-belt-one-road-programme-1.615240">UAE to benefit from China’s One Belt, One Road programme</a></strong>