dragan
Professional
Europe’s mixed views on China’s Belt and Road
In 2012 it created the '16+1' mechanism, a platform where the Chinese prime minister meets – usually once a year- with the leaders of 16 countries including EU members such as Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovenia and the Baltic states, as well as non-EU members including Serbia, Albania and Montenegro.
This framework has become a launch pad for the Belt and Road Initiative (at least half of the countries have signed BRI memorandums of understanding with China since 2015), and has helped China to build (or in some cases rebuild) close relations with Eastern European countries. After some complaints from Brussels, the European Commission was eventually admitted as an observer the 16 + 1 group.
Major BRI infrastructure projects are now starting to take shape in Europe - not without controversy. One of China’s top state-owned enterprises is building a high-speed railway line between Belgrade, the capital of Serbia and Budapest, the capital of Hungary. A member of the EU, Hungary is currently under investigation for possible violations of EU transparency requirements in public tenders in relation to the project.
Athens’s Piraeus Harbour is another major piece of infrastructure that has become representative of China’s offensive in Europe. Since 2016, the Greek harbour has been controlled by China Ocean Shipping Company (Cosco) which acquired 51% of the Port Authority and will be able to acquire a further 16% by 2021, following substantial investments.
The idea is quite simple: through the 'Maritime Silk Road' and the extension of the Suez Canal, China will be able to reach the Mediterranean Sea and will use Piraeus as a platform for Chinese companies and goods. Cosco intends to turn Piraeus into one of the largest container transit ports in Europe...
ceo text : http://beltandroad.hktdc.com/en/insight ... t-and-road
In 2012 it created the '16+1' mechanism, a platform where the Chinese prime minister meets – usually once a year- with the leaders of 16 countries including EU members such as Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovenia and the Baltic states, as well as non-EU members including Serbia, Albania and Montenegro.
This framework has become a launch pad for the Belt and Road Initiative (at least half of the countries have signed BRI memorandums of understanding with China since 2015), and has helped China to build (or in some cases rebuild) close relations with Eastern European countries. After some complaints from Brussels, the European Commission was eventually admitted as an observer the 16 + 1 group.
Major BRI infrastructure projects are now starting to take shape in Europe - not without controversy. One of China’s top state-owned enterprises is building a high-speed railway line between Belgrade, the capital of Serbia and Budapest, the capital of Hungary. A member of the EU, Hungary is currently under investigation for possible violations of EU transparency requirements in public tenders in relation to the project.
Athens’s Piraeus Harbour is another major piece of infrastructure that has become representative of China’s offensive in Europe. Since 2016, the Greek harbour has been controlled by China Ocean Shipping Company (Cosco) which acquired 51% of the Port Authority and will be able to acquire a further 16% by 2021, following substantial investments.
The idea is quite simple: through the 'Maritime Silk Road' and the extension of the Suez Canal, China will be able to reach the Mediterranean Sea and will use Piraeus as a platform for Chinese companies and goods. Cosco intends to turn Piraeus into one of the largest container transit ports in Europe...
ceo text : http://beltandroad.hktdc.com/en/insight ... t-and-road
