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Insights on B&R: China is making a win-win for all partners

Editor: Qian Ding 丨CCTV.com

05-13-2017 20:26 BJT

By Li Shouen, CCTV.com Panview editor-in-chief; Li Yinan, CCTV.com Reporter

As the first Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation has come around the corner, CCTV.com Panview gets a chance to talk to Vassilis Ntousas, International Relations Policy Advisor at the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and Assistant to Mr. Massimo D'Alema, former Prime Minister of Italy. 

(Mr. Vassilis Ntousas in an interview with CCTV.com Panview  Photo/Gao Yuting)

Panview: Mr. Ntousas, would you please tell us a bit about the think-tank you are working with?

Mr. Ntousas: The Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) is a political foundation based in Brussels. 

The topics we cover are foreign policy, security policy, defense policy, but also the development pertaining to the strategic dialogue that Europe needs to be having with its strategic partners across the world. 

FEPS is one of the founding members of the Silk Road Think Tanks Association

Panview: So China is also included as one of the focuses of your research and that's why you are here to attend the B&F Forum?

Mr. Ntousas: We are invited to the Forum through the participation of the President of FEPS, Mr. Massimo D'Alema, who is the former Prime Minister of Italy. He will deliver a speech tomorrow afternoon to the forum of people-to-people bonds.

Panview: What do you think of China's Belt and Road Initiative?

Mr. Ntousas: I think it's a very well designed initiative, a lot of thoughts clearly went into the process. It was announced by President Xi Jinping more than 3 years ago. Ever since then, concrete steps have taken place. The B&F Forum this year is the biggest gathering of this kind since it was announced. 

Heads of states, former heads of states, and representatives from more than 130 countries and also international organizations and think-tanks will all gather here, so I think it is a sign of the willingness of the Chinese government to invest in this project and make it a win-win situation for all the partners that are involved. 

Panview: As a Greek yourself, do you think this B&R Initiative will benefit your home country?

Mr. Ntousas: Of course it is benefiting Greece, because the financial crisis is still lingering. China has a big investment in Greece, mainly through the Port of Piraeus. It is an important source of investment. 

But I have to stress that for the success of the Belt and Road Initiative, and for the project to become a truly win-win cooperation between Greece and China and also between China and Europe, the principles of parity, equal access and openness should be fully respected on both sides. 

 

Panview offers a new window of understanding the world as well as China through the views, opinions, and analysis of experts. We also welcome outside submissions, so feel free to send in your own editorials to "globalopinion@vip.cntv.cn" for consideration.

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