Pavel + 384 PP April 16, 2019 Switzerland will sign an accord backing China’s Belt and Road Initiative when President Ueli Maurer visits China this month, cementing ties with a major trading partner as other Western countries view the gargantuan project with scepticism.President Xi Jinping’s new Silk Road initiative has been controversial particularly in Washington, which views it as a way to spread Chinese influence abroad and saddle countries with unsustainable debt, a charge Beijing rejects. Locked in a trade war with China, the United States has been particularly critical of Italy’s decision to sign up to the plan, the first for a G7 nation. Others in the West are less keen to jump aboard, although many have kept an open mind. Neutral Switzerland sees the BRI accord to be signed during Maurer’s trip as a way to support economic development, especially in central Asia. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pinto + 293 PZ April 16, 2019 So, does it mean that Switzerland is ready to sell some of it's world's famous products Velcro, cellophane, Swiss Army Knife, absinthe, potato peeler, Helvetica font, LSD, muesli, edible chocolate gold and milk chocolate to One Belt One Road countries, huge market? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damirUSBiH + 327 DD April 16, 2019 After Italy, Hungary..Swiss..It darkens the future of Europe. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
francoba + 93 fb April 16, 2019 The implementation of the initiative will set China as a world superpower, no doubt. Just to sit and watch from side means weakness and impotence... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pavel + 384 PP April 16, 2019 The Belt and Road Initiative is just an instrument of a Chinese Colonialism in Asia, Africa and possibly Europe... 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
50 shades of black + 254 April 16, 2019 China has become a predatory ... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Kirkman + 8,860 April 16, 2019 22 minutes ago, 50 shades of black said: China has become a predatory ... ... economic colonist. China learned well from its earlier economic colonization (debt trap diplomacy) attempts in Africa. Here in Malaysia, China's debt trap diplomacy was partially rebuffed and rebuked, under the change of government in Malaysia. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderBlade + 231 TB April 16, 2019 "China said that the Belt and Road Initiative is open to economic cooperation with other countries and regions, and it does not become involved in territorial disputes of relevant parties".... Of course that they want to lower the "tensions" about Initiative... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Kirkman + 8,860 April 17, 2019 14 hours ago, ThunderBlade said: "China said that the Belt and Road Initiative is open to economic cooperation with other countries and regions, and it does not become involved in territorial disputes of relevant parties".... Bwahahahaha < South China Sea disputes > Apparently China presumes the littoral countries of the South China Sea are irrelevant. And since China lays claim to 90% of the entire South China Sea, apparently any territorial disputes are irrelevant as well. Welcome to China's Global 9 Dash Line / One Belt, One Road economic trade zone. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sukumar Ray + 52 April 17, 2019 (edited) China thrives at the destruction of USA. China's rise to global influence through OBOR is an alarm bell for USA. USA is gradually loosing the grip of world influence due to many reasons. Experts from USA must ponder over it and find out a suitable way to restrict China's predatory tactics which may destabilize the world. While USA is busy closing its borders with its neighbors, China is opening its borders by OBOR. May be this is a door of trap in the long run which will only benefit China and embolden its aggression and hegemony over the poor and weak Asian / African countries. What it transpires that slowly but surely USA is going be toppled by China from its numero uno position. Edited April 17, 2019 by Sukumar Ray Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ceo_energemsier + 1,818 cv April 17, 2019 3 hours ago, Sukumar Ray said: China thrives at the destruction of USA. China's rise to global influence through OBOR is an alarm bell for USA. USA is gradually loosing the grip of world influence due to many reasons. Experts from USA must ponder over it and find out a suitable way to restrict China's predatory tactics which may destabilize the world. While USA is busy closing its borders with its neighbors, China is opening its borders by OBOR. May be this is a door of trap in the long run which will only benefit China and embolden its aggression and hegemony over the poor and weak Asian / African countries. What it transpires that slowly but surely USA is going be toppled by China from its numero uno position. The US is not closing its borders for trade and or meaningful , reciprocal and fair trade, China isnt opening its borders literally for people to rush in. China will never open its borders in that manner. So lets be clear about certain statements. No one hears and sees media coverage of thousands and thousands of people rushing the Chinese border to get in and claiming to seek asylum? People dying to get into China? The Great Wall of China did work for them LOL 🤣 China has been doing "predatory lending and investments" in Australia, Africa, South Asia, Pacific Rim region, Mid East, LATAM , and EU and even in Canada. China wants to secure its future, future for its people, resources for its people, resources for its position as a super power on the world stage. Last year we had a discussion about China and the US trade spat on Oilprice. China had and still has a lot more to lose in the trade war with the US. US will suffer some setbacks but not as bad as China. China is dependent on food, fuel and other resources from the US and from around the globe. China's oil output is diving fast, their shale gas ventures are not so successful, even BP has exited recently. Yes China is carrying out a process of financial colonialism to secure cheap labor and resources. The Suisse are not so gullible and money hungry that they will fall for the Belt & Road initiative , hook, line and sinker. What is the Belt in the Belt and Road initiative stand for? You get the "belt" if you dont behave ? Like the carrot and stick? If they do sign an agreement it may be on very restrictive terms, they may allow Chinese funds into their Suisse banks but wont let them own the Suisse! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guillaume Albasini + 851 April 18, 2019 Don't forget to take into account that Switzerland is one of the few countries having a trade surplus with China Switzerland exported CHF8.9 billion in goods to China and Hong Kong in the first half of 2018, with imports amounting to CHF7.4 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of CHF1.5 billion. Swiss watches and precision instrument exports boomed in the first half of 2018 to a value of CHF4 billion. That figure represents a 17.5% increase compared to the same period the previous year. This trade surplus can explain that the Swiss are less afraid than others by the Belt and Road Initiative. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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