Europe’s Mixed Feelings on China’s Belt & Road

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

5: The number of acting Prime Ministers or Presidents from EU member countries present at China’s Belt and Road Forum in Beijing on May 14-15

8: The number of “16+1” countries that have signed a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road initiative with China since 2015

51 percent: China Ocean Shipping Company’s stake in Greece’s Piraeus Port, a key point on China’s Maritime Silk Road, as of 2016

77 percent: The increase in China’s foreign direct investment in Europe from 2015 to 2016

2012: The year China created the “16+1” mechanism as an annual platform for China’s Prime Minister to meet with the leaders of 16 Central and Eastern European countries

500 million: The number of consumers in the European market

€35 billion: China’s total foreign direct investment in Europe in 2016

Source: Europe’s mixed views on China’s One Belt, One Road initiative, by Philippe Le Corre

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