The treaty is part of a strategic choice made by China, whose interests align with those of the European Union. For the EU, the BIT is a well-thought-out strategic choice based on the world’s post-pandemic economic landscape.

China’s history with Europe stretches back centuries to the age of the Silk Road. Today’s landscape sees China as a global superpower often at odds with Europe’s traditional ally, the U.S. With their own agendas to carry out, each EU-member state sees opportunity, threat, and everything in between when it comes to China.

While the European Union and United States share many intertwined interests, Trump has undermined the relationship. So, it will be difficult for the transatlantic alliance to go back to what it was, even with Biden as U.S. president.

There is good reason to believe that patching up relations in an estranged Europe will be a top priority for the incoming administration of Joe Biden. China needs to adapt intelligently, as the United States is likely to keep the pressure on.

Who will win the ‘hearts and minds’ of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europeans with well-spent investment – Beijing with the Belt and Road, or Washington with the Three Seas Initiative?

Both China and the European Union have a strong desire to strengthen cooperation, despite the inevitability of future challenges. Green development, the digital economy and global challenges will increasingly be the new driving forces.

Europe’s global interests have long been aligned with those of the United States, but as a new Cold War intensifies between China and the US, the EU states are diverging from what they see as brash US action.

The nations of the ‘European Rim’ face a tough decision in the midst of a post-COVID US-China decoupling – to look east or west for investment and development opportunities? Regardless of the investment sources, the European Rim must prioritize middle class-oriented growth to pursue full employment and economic stability.

The nations of the ‘European Rim’ face a tough decision in the midst of a post-COVID US-China decoupling – to look east or west for investment and development opportunities? Regardless of the investment sources, the European Rim must prioritize middle class-oriented growth to pursue full employment and economic stability.

The nations of the ‘European Rim’ face a tough decision in the midst of a post-COVID US-China decoupling – to look east or west for investment and development opportunities? Regardless of the investment sources, the European Rim must prioritize middle class-oriented growth to pursue full employment and economic stability.