The European Union disappointed Beijing on Monday, choosing not to support a prepared statement about trade marking the end of the One Belt, One Road summit.
“We made clear that, for Europe, the Belt and Road initiative can only be a success if it’s based on transparency and co-ownership,” The Guardian quoted one high-level EU diplomat as saying. “Apparently to Chinese surprise, the EU was united on this.”
The decision was reportedly in response to a Chinese decision not to incorporate EU member concerns in the draft text of the statement. The EU had published a summary of the bloc’s public position on OBOR ahead of the summit which raised concerns regarding economic and environmental sustainability and fair tendering processes.