One Belt One Road Europe
In early 2019, several states in Middle East announced their interest in the port of Gwadar in Pakistan. The port of Gwadar is the flagship project of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). With the opening of the CECP to the rest of the world, the port of Gwadar is likely to become a major hub connecting China, South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
During the first week of January 2019, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi inaugurated an African tour and traveled to Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Senegal. Africa embraces the Belt and Road Initiative!
OBOReurope wishes you all a happy new year 2019!
In his New Year’s speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledges for the development of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2019.
On December 24, 2018, COSCO, Xiamen Port authorities in Fujian, and Fujian Provincial Communication Transportation Group announced the establishment of Silk Road Maritime.
Nippon Express, one of the five largest logistics companies in the world, inaugurated its first journey from China to Europe on December 20, 2018. This first freight train is expected to connect Xian in China to Duisburg in Germany in just 18 days.
or the 15th anniversary of the global strategic partnership between China and the European Union, on December 18, 2018, China unveiled its latest policy paper on the European Union. This document addresses many points and calls for a strengthening of exchanges between the two powers.
On December 9, 2018, the Halogaland bridge was inaugurated near Narvik in Norway in the presence of Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway and Wang Min, Chinese Ambassador to Oslo. The construction of an Arctic route, connecting northern Europe with China, is an opportunity to develop its northernmost regions.
After Chile, Ecuador also joined the news Silk roads. Latin American states seem increasingly open to a lasting partnership with Beijing. On December 11, 2018, Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno arrived in Beijing for a three-day official visit, during which he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
After attending the G20 summit in Buenos Aires and stopping in Panama, on his way home, President Xi Jinping visited Portugal on December 4, 2018. President Xi Jinping met with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and his Prime Minister. Lisbon has responded favorably to the China’s new Silk Roads’ program.
French adn Chinese foreign ministers, Jean-Yves Le Drian and Wang Yi, in a joint declaration, expressed their strongest political commitment to respect the Paris agreements on climate change and affirmed their support for the next COP24 to be held in Katowice.