V4 - Chinese relations: A lost opportunity or a new start?

Alexandr Lagazzi in his new policy brief, explores the shift of Chinese attention on the 16+1 platform, from the V4 to the Western Balkans. While analysing the current relations between China and the V4, he points out what strategy the V4 could adopt in addressing this shift.

The Chinese attenton has shifted from the V4 towards the Western Balkans. In its political discussions and economic cooperation with China, the V4 has moved into the background, and to the forefront came the Western Balkans. In this policy brief Alexandr Lagazzi analyses whether this has been caused by the position of the V4 within the EU, or by greater Chinese interest in the Western Balkans. Further he suggests that Chinese attention should be exploited to form a common V4 China policy. 

It  seems  therefore  that  Beijing’s approach might be that of balancing its political activity (especially foreign policy) in order to compensate its stagnating economic development, instead of the previous model of diplomacy. 

Andrej  Babis’  ANO  party  winning  the  fall  2017  general  elections  and  Martin Stropnicky being appointed as Foreign Minister, their respective programme of deeper integration in the EU and focus on human rights in foreign policy might again affect Chinese - Czech  relations  and  perhaps  create  further  opposition  towards  Zeman’s stances.

The complete article is available through the PDF button on the right of this article.

Alexandr Lagazzi
Associate Research Fellow

Expertise: Diplomacy, EU foreign policy, Italy, China, International security, Terrorism, Behavioural Economics