Recently, Europe has been trying to redefine its economic relationship with China by taking a sterner approach towards its counterpart’s distorted market practice. In the process, China has softened its position out of necessity.

With the United States not offering the political and economic support Europe needs to offset China’s influence, leaders like Macron and Merkel face the challenge of retaining the multilateral global order today, while also engaging China on key economic and global issues.

Greece’s recent decision to join China’s 16+1 initiative signals that cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) is strengthening. While both the BRI and 17+1 should remain vulnerable to criticism, the summits are building diplomatic bridges between European nations, while simultaneously expanding China’s influence.

In Europe’s biggest capitals, there has been significant skepticism about the Belt and Road Initiative and the Chinese government’s development strategy. As Beijing seeks to push through its 16+1 economic plan, friction with Brussels will continue to mount.

China’s willingness to listen to and address the concerns of the Belt and Road Initiative member states may invite a host of requests for price cuts, in the wake of its price reduction for Malaysian infrastructure.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is putting forward an alternative vision of global economic development to help developing countries escape poverty, and help developed countries head off inequality and populist challenges. But the US seems poised to squander its chance to participate and thereby shape this future of infrastructure, inclusivity, and innovation.

Authorities tone down publicity before Xi’s second BRI forum.

The BRI is not about transcontinental connectivity. It would be shortsighted to believe that as China’s domestic economy continues to struggle, it will prioritize investment in an idealistic vision underpinned by little economic or strategic purpose. It is time that schematic maps reflect this.

American experts helped Myanmar push back on multibillion-dollar port deal in new strategy to counter China’s Belt and Road influence.