Oh, he's cute. Mr. I can never sleep when I'm traveling. He's hugging his pillow like a sloth on a branch.

He couldn't sleep before. Now listen to him. Sounds like an elephant with a chest infection.

Well, they call him a dreamer. And now they're right.

All aboard, Mr. I can never sleep when I'm traveling. Find all the comfort you need in the quiet lounge.

Pinedo Ferris, there is another way.

This is John Bachelor.

Conversation with colleague Cameron Bokari of the New Lines Institute

about the competition for Central Asia, the stands between Beijing, the Chinese Communist Party, and Moscow, the Kremlin.

Once upon a time, this was Soviet Empire.

Hence, all the second languages across the stands are Russian. And yet China is showing up first

with the Belt and Road Initiative and now with investment, East and West Investment,

the competition between Moscow and Beijing.

India is also part of the mix, however, as Cameron makes very clear,

the US and the EU are nowhere.

This is a resource-rich part of the world. I've traveled to Uzbekistan, I've traveled

to Kazakhstan, I've certainly traveled to the South Caucasus, and we're looking at a competition worthy of the United States and yet, since the withdrawal

from Afghanistan, Cameron comments, there's no presence in the other parts of the stands.

Cameron Bokari, New Lines Institute

on the competition for Central Asia in the 21st century.

More of this later in the week.

Thank you.

Geographically, the US is nowhere near this region and the U.S. is nowhere near this region and the EU is also trying to get that

...