China’s 19th Party Congress unexpectedly
amended the party’s constitution with a
pledge to “pursue the Belt and Road
Initiative”. This further elevates the status
of president Xi’s heavily promoted foreign
policy, which aims at creating trade and
investment opportunities through the
development of Eurasia’s continental and
maritime infrastructure. As the implications
of this policy are increasingly felt across
Europe, following years of growing Chinese
investments, so are the challenges it
presents to Europe’s unity, prosperity and
security. In light of these challenges a
constructive engagement with China’s Belt
and Road Initiative (BRI) constitutes an
immense task for the European Union,
whose position has been weakened by
growing dissent among member states over
the Union’s policy towards China