The role of private international law in the context of the One Belt One Road initiative

Abstract

So one would ask: why is private international law much of a concern in China's One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative? Indeed, it is a theme of this book that private international law should be a prime focus for this initiative to succeed. Yet academic discourses so far reveal blat,mt ignorance regarding this crucial branch of law. At the same time, the Chinese government, who initiated this gigantic project, has focused its mind only on building infrastructure in support of this initiative. This chapter will start in the first part by explaining what is, exactly, the OBOR. Then, in the second part, it will explain a branch of law called 'private international law' or 'conflict of laws' and what it entails and why it is crucial to the success of the OBOR. Then, in the third part, the authors will summarise the concerns brought up in each chapter of this book, all of which call for the immediate attention of the Chinese government, governments of other countries and those involved in the OBOR.