刘强，全球能源安全论坛秘书长写了一篇关于中国的“一带一路”计划的文章， 讨论了这个计划会怎么给亚洲带来能源 安全，提供更好的连通性和更多的经济机会。

Liu Qiang says as demand increases, China's 'One Belt,One Road' project can help offset the challenges and provide betterconnectivity and greater economic opportunities

China's fasteconomic growth in the past 30 years has dramatically transformed the globallandscape. This transformation will only continue under the "One Belt, OneRoad" initiative set out by President Xi Jinping.

This proposedinitiative will propel China and the region towards a more dynamic economicsystem. At home, "One Belt, One Road" will connect the inland areas,furthering their development to the levels seen in cities such as Beijing,Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Beyond China, the initiative will createstronger links of energy, transport and information along the historical SilkRoad that connects Europe to the Middle East to Asia, and the Maritime SilkRoad that encompasses Southeast Asia, Oceania and East Africa.

These connectionswill integrate markets into a dynamic economic system and offer the chance toimprove the regional security situation. They will also transform the regionalenergy landscape.

Currently, Asiafaces several energy needs. Its growing countries are demanding more energy aswell as energy-intensive products such as iron, steel, cement, electricappliances and cars. They are also increasingly looking to adopt clean energy.This fast-growing energy consumption requires more reliable and efficientinfrastructure and markets.

To meet therapidly rising demand that comes with the region's economic development and isfuelling it, Asia's investment in the oil, gas and power sectors could be ashigh as US$10 trillion over the next 20 years, according to the InternationalEnergy Agency.

Through the"One Belt, One Road" initiative, China will help to offset some ofthese major challenges. It will invest in energy projects ranging from upstreamprojects, oil and gas pipelines, and liquefied natural gas terminals tohigh-voltage power lines, nuclear power and renewable energy. It will create amore efficient and better integrated energy network.

In terms of energyproject investment, the natural gas sector is already feeling the impact of the"One Belt, One Road" initiative. As demand increases across Asia fornatural gas as a cleaner substitute for coal and oil, it is driving Qatar,Iran, Indonesia and Australia to raise their output. China and Russia havealready signed a long-term natural gas contract and there is the possibilitythat North America will sell natural gas to East Asia in the future.

As such, a hub andproper pricing system is necessary to facilitate the fast-growing market fornatural gas in the region. Some of China's harbour cities such as Shanghai andTangshan, in Hebei , have put forward the idea of developing a natural gas hub.Given the rising demand, participation by other East Asian economies can turnthis vision into reality.

In terms of a moreintegrated energy network, the design of the "One Belt, One Road"initiative offers all Asian countries better energy connectivity, more economicopportunities for local communities and stronger communication among differentnations and peoples. The initiative will also help mitigate the risks currentlyinherent in the transport of fuel and other goods through unstable, insecure orunfriendly channels. The result will be strengthened energy and geopoliticalsecurity, as well as a more stable regional energy market.

The "OneBelt, One Road" initiative will engender a win-win outcome for China andthe nations along the inland and maritime links. China has the ability toinvest in these countries and offer an enormous market for their products.Critics may say the initiative is just an attempt by China to sell its surplusindustrial output and improve its own energy supplies. The truth is that thebenefits of stronger ties among economies and a bigger, more integratedEuro-Asia market will be there for all to enjoy.

DrLiu Qiang is secretary-general of the Global Forum for Energy Security anddirector of the Energy Economics Division at the Chinese Academy of SocialSciences (CASS). He will be sharing more about the energy opportunities andimplications of One Belt, One Road at Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2015from 26-30 October.

Thisarticle first appeared in the print edition of the South China Morning Post on13 June 2015.