The transformation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative: What is in it for Europe?
28
Feb 2023
Brussels
Alicia Garcia Herrero
Reinhard Bütikofer
Jean-François Di Meglio
Mikko Huotari
Dominic Porter
Eva Valle Lagares
Jeromin Zettelmeyer
China’s flagship project, The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has gone through an important transformation in the last few years. Such transformation has not only followed the deterioration of China’s image globally but also debt problems in several BRI geographies. China is repackaging its economic engagement abroad with the introduction of several new – so far rather nebulous – concepts, such as the “Global Development Initiative”, the “Global Security Initiative”, and the “Community with a shared future for mankind”. What is behind these new buzzwords? Where does China stand with the Belt and Road? What can Europe expect of China’s future involvement abroad?
This event is organised by Bruegel in cooperation with Asia Centre and the Mercator Institute for China Studies.
Agenda
- 15:30 Check-in and coffee
- 16:00 Conversation
- Chair: Alicia García-Herrero, Senior fellow
- Reinhard Bütikofer, Member of the European Parliament; (Online)
- Jean-Francois Di Meglio, President, Asia Centre in Paris
- Mikko Huotari
- Dominic Porter, Head of Division, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Mongolia, European External Action Service
- Eva Valle Lagares, Minister Counsellor, Head of Trade, Delegation of the EU to China, European External Action Service
- Jeromin Zettelmeyer, Director - 17:30 End of meeting
About the speakers
Alicia Garcia Herrero
Chief Economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis, Senior Fellow at Bruegel, Non-resident Senior Follow at the East Asian Institute, Adjunct Professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Economist specialized in monetary and financial issues in emerging markets, banking crises and resolution strategies, financial development
Reinhard Bütikofer
Member of the European Parliament
Jean-François Di Meglio
President, co-founder and contributor of Asia Center, Associate Professor at Sciences Po Paris, Ecole Doctorale Professor at Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), Associate Professor at Université Paris Dauphine - PSL
Specialist in international and asian finance and banking sector
Mikko Huotari
Executive Director of Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS)
China‘s foreign policy; China-Europe relations; global (economic) governance and competition
Dominic Porter
Head of Division, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Mongolia, European External Action Service
Eva Valle Lagares
Minister Counsellor, Head of Trade, Delegation of the EU to China, European External Action Service
Jeromin Zettelmeyer
Director of Bruegel