EU sanctions against Belarus put China-Europe railway transit at risk – expert
<p> MINSK, Oct 26 - PrimePress. European Union’s sanctions against Belarus may jeopardize stable railway transit of commodities from China to Europe, Wang Xiaoquan, head of the Research Division, Institute of Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Secretary General of the All-China Association for the Study of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia; Deputy Director of the One Belt and One Road Research Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said at the online forum ‘Conjugation of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union.’ </p> <p> “Political crises and the Chinese threat theory emerge along the China-Europe route to hinder regional cooperation. A possible escalation of Western sanctions against Belarus can also threaten the stable operation of China-Europe express trains,” he said. </p> <p> </p> <p> According to the expert, sea and air transport was severely hit by the pandemic, and land transport showed its advantages during this period. </p> <p> </p> <p> “The sea and air transportation will regain its advantages once the pandemic has begun to fade out. Economies of most countries will face even more difficulties in 2021, and demand for transportation will be higher,” he said. </p> <p> </p> <p> The European Union has repeatedly stated that it does not recognize the results of the presidential election in Belarus. Brussels introduced on October 2020 additional sanctions against 40 Belarusian nationals who, according to the European Union, are involved in the crackdown on protesters and election rigging </p> <p> </p> <p> Belt and Road is China’s international initiative aimed at improving the existing and creating new trade and transport corridors that link more than 60 countries of Central Asia, Europe and Africa, and stepping up China’s trade with them. End </p>
2020-10-27
Primepress
MINSK, Oct 26 - PrimePress. European Union’s sanctions against Belarus may jeopardize stable railway transit of commodities from China to Europe, Wang Xiaoquan, head of the Research Division, Institute of Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Secretary General of the All-China Association for the Study of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia; Deputy Director of the One Belt and One Road Research Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said at the online forum ‘Conjugation of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union.’
“Political crises and the Chinese threat theory emerge along the China-Europe route to hinder regional cooperation. A possible escalation of Western sanctions against Belarus can also threaten the stable operation of China-Europe express trains,” he said.
According to the expert, sea and air transport was severely hit by the pandemic, and land transport showed its advantages during this period.
“The sea and air transportation will regain its advantages once the pandemic has begun to fade out. Economies of most countries will face even more difficulties in 2021, and demand for transportation will be higher,” he said.
The European Union has repeatedly stated that it does not recognize the results of the presidential election in Belarus. Brussels introduced on October 2020 additional sanctions against 40 Belarusian nationals who, according to the European Union, are involved in the crackdown on protesters and election rigging
Belt and Road is China’s international initiative aimed at improving the existing and creating new trade and transport corridors that link more than 60 countries of Central Asia, Europe and Africa, and stepping up China’s trade with them. End