(Video) Rajya Sabha TV (RSTV) The Big Picture: China's EU Overtures

Topic: China's EU Overtures

Guest:

Jayant Dasgupta, (Former Ambassador of India at WTO)
Maj. Gen. Dhruv C. Katoch (Retd., Director, India Foundation)
Shashank, (Former Foreign Secretary)

Topic Description:

Italy's participation in China's "Silk Road" infrastructure project sparked an outcry in Germany on Sunday, including a call for the European Union to block such deals with a veto. The EU's budget commissioner, Germany’s Gunther Oettinger said he viewed "with concern that in Italy and other European countries, infrastructure of strategic importance like power networks, rapid rail lines or harbours are no longer in European but in Chinese hands." Europe has been struggling to find a coherent strategy to deal with China. While the continent desperately needs to keep China on its side as a trade ally, it is also wary of the Chinese state's ambitions and growing global clout. Italy on Saturday became the first G7 country to sign up for Beijing's new "Silk Road" project of road, rail and sea transport and trade links stretching from Asia to Europe. The project has raised eyebrows in Washington and in some EU capitals where critics say it will give China too much sway. Following his visit to Italy, Xi stopped in Monaco on the French Riviera before meeting France's Emmanuel Macron. Macron will hold trade and climate talks on Tuesday with Xi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. On this edition of the big picture we will analyse China’s EU overtures and Europe’s options.