Entries tagged "Europe"

  • Italy, China’s Latest Gateway to Europe | May 7, 2019, 9:03 a.m.

    The signing of an MoU during a March 22-24 by Chinese president Xi Jinping has made Italy the first G7 nation to join China's sprawling Belt and Road Initiative, but Rome will be wise to devote sustained long-term resources to the negotiation, implementation, and follow-up of whatever comes out of these memoranda to avoid the mistakes of other BRI partners.

  • View All Analysis | May 1, 2019, 11:52 a.m.

    Browse our analysis section for news and articles on topics such as China's Belt and Road Initiative (OBOR), the Competing Visions of Japan, India, and other regional powers, and the stakes for U.S. policy.

  • China Looks West for BRI Partners | April 29, 2019, 9:08 a.m.

    China announced on Saturday that two more non-Asian nations, Switzerland and Peru, have signed on to its Belt and Road Initiative. As Asian Belt and Road participants view with initiative with increasing skepticism, China is looking elsewhere for supportive partners, reports Nikkei.

  • Italy Commits to Japan's Infrastructure Principles | April 25, 2019, 9:13 a.m.

    Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Italian PM Giuseppe Conte agreed to uphold Japan's four conditions for high-quality infrastructure during a bilateral summit in Rome. Italy recently signed on to China's Belt and Road Initiative, sparking concerns the country would fall prey to "debt-trap diplomacy," reports Nikkei.

  • UK Bans Huawei from 5G Core | April 24, 2019, 9:21 a.m.

    The United Kingdom's National Security Council has barred Huawei Technologies from supplying equipment for sensitive "core" components of its 5G network. However, Prime Minister Theresa May has accepted the National Cyber Security Center's conclusion that the risk from Huawei's participation can be mitigated, and thus will allow the company to contribute equipment to "non-core" parts of the network, reports Nikkei.

  • Abe offers Eastern Europe BRI Alternative | April 18, 2019, 9:10 a.m.

    Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Slovakia later this month, where he plans to offer Eastern European leaders Japanese-financed infrastructure investments. Abe is expected to raise concerns about China's so-called debt-trap diplomacy, presenting Japan's approach as an alternative to the Belt and Road Initiative, reports Nikkei.

  • China Operating Trieste Port Concerns EU | March 25, 2019, 9:04 a.m.

    China Communications Construction has signed an agreement to operate the northern Italian port of Trieste. Combined with Piraeus in Greece, Sines in Portugal and Valencia in Spain it could form a new Chinese-controlled logistics network capable of redesigning Europe's industrial chains, reports Nikkei.

  • Germany to Discuss Huawei with U.S. | March 14, 2019, 9:06 a.m.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters Germany will "consult with the U.S." about the risks of allowing Huawei to help build the country's 5G network. The announcement comes as Washington threatens to halt intelligence sharing with allies who refuse to ban the Chinese telecommunications firm from 5G equipment contracts, reports Nikkei.

  • BRI Countries Must Build Local Capacity | March 13, 2019, 10:44 a.m.

    To effectively leverage the infrastructure financing opportunities provided by the Belt & Road Initiative, countries must examine their own development strategies and build domestic skills and institutions, argues Ganeshan Wignaraja for the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • Italy to Support China's Belt and Road | March 12, 2019, 9:19 a.m.

    Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said Friday that he is open to signing a deal that would make Italy a member of China's Belt and Road Initiative. The move risks stirring up divisions with other European Union members distrustful of Beijing's expansionist bent, reports the Nikkei Asian Review.

  • Japan-EU Agreement Sets Precedent for Digital Rules | Feb. 4, 2019, 11:59 a.m.

    Taking effect Friday, The economic partnership agreement between Japan and the European Union incorporates wide-ranging regulations on data transfer and intellectual property protection. The trade deal could help establish precedent for the digital field, Nikkei reports.

  • European Fault Lines and Chinese Crossroads | Jan. 9, 2019, 12:47 p.m.

    The European Commission has become increasingly critical of various Chinese investments within the EU, fueling an ongoing debate within Europe about investment screening. While the EU released a framework for foreign investment screening implicitly aimed at China in November 2018, the debate has exposed cross-cutting divisions within Europe. Looking ahead to 2019, we should not expect a clear resolution anytime soon.

  • Traveling 60,000 KM Across China’s Belt and Road | Oct. 11, 2018, 8:53 a.m.

    The China Road Project, a team of researchers interested in China’s role in global development, will be traveling 60,000 kilometers over land and sea to investigate China's Belt and Road initiative (BRI), a foreign policy concept and global infrastructure plan announced by Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2013, to help close the information gap and shine a light on the multi-trillion dollar initiative.

  • The EU Strategy on Connecting Asia and Europe | Sept. 21, 2018, 5:13 p.m.

    On September 19, The European Commission released a joint communication titled "Connecting Europe and Asia – Building blocks for an EU Strategy," outlining EU priorities for implementing sustainable, comprehensive, and rules-based connectivity to link its transport, energy, and digital networks with Asia.

  • EU Wary of China’s Infrastructure in Eastern Europe | July 30, 2018, 9:41 a.m.

    The EU became wary of China's infrastructure investment in Central and Eastern European countries. Hungary was forced by the EU to conduct a public tender for the Hungarian segment of the Belgrade-Budapest High-Speed Railway, which would delay the project completion until 2023.

  • China’s Balkan Investment Rattles the EU | July 2, 2018, 9:41 a.m.

    "China has lavished investment pledges on Balkan states as it prepares for a summit with 16 EU countries and aspiring members, stoking fears in Brussels and influential national capitals of an effort to divide the bloc" reports the Financial Times, citing data collected in collaboration with the CSIS Reconnecting Asia Project.

  • Gaining Steam on the Eurasian Economic Union's Railways | May 9, 2018, 10:30 a.m.

    Quotes and Quotas is a weekly digest of powerful phrases and facts that help explain Asia’s infrastructure push.

  • China “16+1” Infrastructure Pledges Total $15B | April 23, 2018, 9:41 a.m.

    Since 2012, China has held an annual "16 plus one" forum on economic cooperation with 16 Eastern European states and has pledged to invest a total of $15 billion in infrastructure improvements so far.

  • China's Shrewd Bet on Intercontinental Rail | March 28, 2018, 7:58 a.m.

    A recent report from the Reconnecting Asia Project suggests intercontinental rail will not likely capture enough trade to fundamentally change Eurasia's broader economic picture.

  • Russia and China in the Arctic | March 19, 2018, 10:46 a.m.

    Quotes and Quotas is a digest of phrases and facts that help explain Asia’s infrastructure push.

  • Japanese Freight Service Joins BRI | March 12, 2018, 9:03 a.m.

    Japanese trading house Itochu is launching a freight transport service linking Japan and Europe via China.

  • The Rise of China-Europe Railways | March 6, 2018, 9:46 a.m.

    Just 10 years ago, regular direct freight services from China to Europe did not exist. Today, they connect roughly 35 Chinese cities with 34 European cities. But despite their rapid advances, these lines must compete with maritime routes that have dominated commerce between Asia and Europe since the late fifteenth century. It remains to be seen how much trade they can capture.

  • China Bids on German Power Grid | March 6, 2018, 9:38 a.m.

    State Grid Corp. of China has announced plans to bid for a 20 percent stake in a local German power grid operator. If successful, the deal will be China's first investment in Germany's critical infrastructure.

  • The Belt and Road’s Barriers to Participation | Feb. 7, 2018, 8:49 a.m.

    China's Belt and Road initiative has enjoyed relatively rapid and wide support, particularly in Asia. However, its political future depends on implementation and delivering economic results. To sustain support, China should be looking for opportunities to broaden participation.

  • Britain's May Eyeing Chinese Market | Feb. 2, 2018, 9:39 a.m.

    British prime minister Theresa May is expecting $12.8 billion in commercial deals with China. The agreements would focus mainly on the fields of finance, agriculture, science and technology, as well as President Xi Jinping's flagship Belt and Road Initiative.

  • France Backs China's Belt and Road Initiative | Jan. 10, 2018, 9:14 a.m.

    During French president Emmanuel Macron's recent trip to China, he promised to pursue a comprehensive and strategic partnership including collaboration on China's Belt and Road initiative.

  • Europe Should Support China-CEE Cooperation | Dec. 19, 2017, 5:34 p.m.

    China has achieved remarkable infrastructure progress in recent years. As the Chinese say, if you want to develop, build the road first; and as investors say, no infrastructure, no FDI.

  • Belt & Road is Back on the Rails in Eastern Europe | Dec. 12, 2017, 10:28 a.m.

    Broad generalizations about “Belt and Road projects,” whether positive or negative, are not particularly helpful and could even be dangerous when formulating policy. A more successful approach is likely to involve nuanced and localized policies in the same way that China has adopted localized approaches to infrastructure investment under the BRI umbrella.

  • China’s “16+1” Equals Much Ado About Nothing? | Dec. 5, 2017, 9:41 a.m.

    The political damage Chinese investment in the CEE has created for the EU is already visible in its inability to act cohesively vis-à-vis China on trademark foreign policy issues, namely upholding the international rule of law and protecting human rights.

  • Hydrogen and Green Shipping | Nov. 30, 2017, 3:15 p.m.

    On November 30th the CSIS Energy and National Security Program hosted "Hydrogen and Green Shipping: Zero Emission Fuel in the Maritime Sector" to discuss the important role that hydrogen fuel technology could play for shipping in the transition to a low-carbon future.

  • China’s 16+1 Poses Few Risks to Europe | Nov. 30, 2017, 2:59 p.m.

    Chinese investments in Central and Eastern Europe are raising concerns about transparency and accountability, but for now, the risks are relatively manageable given the modest scope of investment.

  • China Hikes Infrastructure Loans to East Europe | Nov. 29, 2017, 9:37 a.m.

    Premier Li sees the region as key to Belt and Road push

  • China’s Gateway to Europe Raises Questions | Nov. 28, 2017, 9 a.m.

    At the onset of Beijing’s sixth 16+1 forum, China’s involvement with Central and Eastern Europe under the Belt and Road is beginning to take shape. Results on the ground have proven mixed so far, and a more nuanced local picture is slowly emerging; with some reasons for concerns but also much reassurance provided.

  • Eastern Europe’s China Pivot | Nov. 27, 2017, 10:07 a.m.

    Beijing’s star is rising in central and eastern European nations,” reports the Financial Times

  • Trekking 5,500 Miles Across the Silk Road | Nov. 21, 2017, 9 a.m.

    Three Americans walk the historic silk road from Xi’an to Istanbul to examine globalization and the dissemination of people, products, and ideas along the largest network of trading routes in the ancient world.

  • China’s Balkan Silk Road | Nov. 20, 2017, 10:08 a.m.

    The magnitude of the Balkan Silk Road project poses a mixture of opportunities and policy challenges for countries engaging in or seeking to benefit from its implementation.

  • China in Central and Eastern Europe | Nov. 19, 2017, 11:34 a.m.

    Our “Big Questions” series brings together leading scholars, former policymakers, and top industry experts to tackle critical questions. In the seventh part of this series, we asked a group of experts to comment on China's growing infrastructure investment in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

  • Explorers' View of China's Belt and Road Initiative | Nov. 17, 2017, 9:13 a.m.

    In China, where high-speed rail and brand-new highways are visibly transforming the lives of workers and families, the potential of the Belt and road is apparent. However, outside of China, the BRI remains largely hype for now.

  • 105 Nights | Nov. 16, 2017, 1:39 p.m.

    Follow three young explorers from Venice to Beijing as they study how ancient trading routes are being reshaped by China's Rise.

  • Trilateral Rail Project Connects Asia to Europe | Oct. 31, 2017, 10 a.m.

    The inauguration of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway has opened the possibility of a southern route for trade between China and Europe.

  • Competing Visions | Sept. 28, 2017, 1:47 p.m.

    CSIS's leading regional experts discuss how the ambitious connectivity visions of regional powers across Eurasia could re-shape the future of the super-continent.

  • BRI Adds Option for Central and Eastern Europe | Aug. 22, 2017, 9 a.m.

    As Central and Eastern European countries face a tough choice between deeper integration or political marginalization within the European Union, many are questioning whether China's Belt and Road Initiative can help them escape the risks of periphery or marginalization.

  • Western Firms Chase Belt and Road Opportunities | Aug. 4, 2017, 9:33 a.m.

    “For years to come, OBOR looks likely to be the toast of Western boardrooms.”

  • Japan Expands Rail Services to Europe | Aug. 1, 2017, 8:33 a.m.

    Japanese international freight forwarder Nippon Express is poised to expand rail services between Europe and Asia to take advantage of anticipated trade hikes from China's Belt and Road Initiative.

  • A Second Look at China-Europe Trains | July 26, 2017, 10:24 a.m.

    The news is full these days of “historic” train links between China and Europe. But these powerful symbols aren’t always what they seem. A closer look cautions against declaring that the Silk Road is ba

  • Modi Pushes Globalization in Europe, Russia | June 7, 2017, 9:44 a.m.

    During a recent trip to Europe and Russia, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushed a pro-globalization message.

  • Europe's Mixed Feelings on China's Belt & Road | June 1, 2017, 9:49 a.m.

    Quotes and Quotas is a weekly digest of phrases and facts that help explain Asia’s infrastructure push.

  • China Announces Beijing-Tianjin Rail | Nov. 28, 2016, 10:03 a.m.

    Railway companies in China are experiencing a boost thanks to growing demand, Nikkei reports. The rise in stocks is attributed to increased market shares in Europe and Australia and the announcement of a new rail line that will link Beijing to Tianjin in China.

  • China in Europe | Nov. 23, 2016, 9:03 a.m.

    What is new about China's Belt and Road is that it is more likely to succeed outside of Eurasia, leading to new opportunities but also unexpected challenges for Europe and the United States.