“One Belt One Road - Economy, Security and Politics”

December 3, 2018 Belgrade, Serbia

Project One Belt One Road (OBOR) has alternative routes and potential participants mainly due to geo-political changes over centuries from the time of original Silk road until today. In 2012 China approached the Central-Eastern Europe countries (CEEC) with a proposal concerning regional cooperation named 16+1 initiative. Main target is to boost trading (e.g. technology transfer, import-export of agricultural and animal products, etc.). To achieve such goal China also plans to give support by providing investment backing to fund large-scale infrastructure projects, starting with energy sector and cooperation in the construction of railways and highways. As the member of the EU and Euro zone, Greece is the associated member of the 16+1 initiative.

The influence and importance of OBOR project has been discussed in a number of articles and papers. With regard to OBOR – 16+1 initiative and western Balkans, some key elements could be derived from the except from the report prepared by Dr Jens Bastian for EBRD :

– With the availability of capital, technology and a master plan under the heading of the OBOR, Chinese investments in EU and non

-EU member states create leverage for acquisitions and infrastructure innovation on an unprecedented scale.- China’s ambitious OBOR project can contribute to help transforming the western Balkans.

– The OBOR includes policy initiatives, investment priorities and business decisions by Chinese authorities and companies that can have major impact on participating countries and their regulatory authorities and civil society organizations.

Less than 20 transport and energy projects appear to have been approved so far as part of the 16+1 cooperation agenda across the region, but according to the website of the Western Balkans Investment Framework, only about one quarter of those have actually seen work commence. The major indicated obstacles are the immense diversification of the region (including cultural, political, historical and differences in the structure of each country’s economies), insufficient expertise or complicated procedures on the part of Chinese companies, the division into EU member states and others (with barriers related to EU regulations in some cases), the asymmetry of economic needs between China and partners and lack of willingness within the region itself to speed-up the cooperation.

China, as a latecomer on the CEEC market, faces the reality of a saturated market as Western European firms already predominate. Because China’s firms lack experience in international business and know less about the business culture and business practices of the CEEC, business decisions regarding investment are time-consuming and difficult. The 16+1 framework will help Chinese firms a great deal as it facilitates business contacts, builds social networks, and makes business decisions easier. Taking into consideration all circumstances, the planer of OBOR has to think about all possible aspects (economical, security and political) for successful execution of OBOR. Researchers from China and Europe will have great opportunity to exchange their views and thoughts at International Round Table.

Participants:

  • prof. ZHANG Zhaoan, the Vice President of Shanghai Academy of Social Science
  • prof. dr Shi Liangping, Senior Researcher, Shanghai Academy of Social Science
  • prof. dr Tang Yunyi, Senior Researcher, Shanghai Academy of Social Science
  • prof. dr Chen Jianxun, Senior Researcher, Shanghai Academy of Social Science
  • prof. dr Shlomo Spira, Bar Ilan University, Tel Aviv Israel
  • prof. dr Zoran Dragisic, Faculty of Security Studies, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • dr Akrab Gordon, Center for Hybrid War, Zagreb, Croatia
  • pro. dr Marco Lombardi, Director of ITSTIME Research Center at Catholic University Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
  • prof. dr Nikola Dujevski, the Dean of the Faculty of Security, Skopje, FYR Macedonia
  • Brigadier General (Res.) is a lecturer of Political Science in Bar-Ilan University, Tel Aviv, Israel
  • dr Jonathan Fighel, Col. (Ret.) Senior Researcher & Head of the Terrorism Prosecution Desk, International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT), Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Herzliya, Israel
  • prof. dr Jasmin Ahic, Associate Professor Vice Dean for Science, Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • prof. dr Vladimir Marinkovic, Deputy President of the Serbian Parliament, President of Serbian-Israeli Parlamentary Caucus, President of Serbian-American Congress, PhD of Economic sciences, Serbia
  • prof. dr Vasko Stamevski, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Former Major General at the Ministry of the Interior, FYR Macedonia
  • prof. dr John Nomikos, Director at the Research Institute for European and American Studies, Athens,Greece
  • prof. dr Ian Anthony, Director of SIPRI's European Security Programme, SIPRI-Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Sweden
  • prof. dr Liliana Popescu, Prorector at the National School of Political and Administration Studies, Bucharest, Rumunia
  • prof. dr Velimir Rakocevic, The Dean Faculty of Law University of Montenegro, Podgorica, Montenegro
  • dr Orhan Dragas, Director of International Security Institute, Belgrade, Serbia
  • dr Darko Trifunovic, Director of the Institute for National and International Security