By Zhang Liping, Chen Ning, Wang Yang & Tian Hui, Research Institute of Finance, DRC

Research Report, No. 127, 2017 (Total 5202), 2017-09-29

Abstract: The three countries of Greece, Romania and Serbia have made efforts to strengthen their inter-connectivity, which highly synergizes with the Belt and Road Initiative. The Research Institute of Finance of the Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC) sent a research group to the three countries in mid-May 2017. The research group held ten meetings with related government departments, financial institutes, think tanks and overseas Chinese enterprises and participated in round table meetings with Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Finance and Ministry of Economy as well as relevant think tanks. The group members made field surveys on projects relating to the Belt and Road Initiative respectively in Piraeus Port Authority of China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO), Huawei’s branch company in Greece, Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment Corporation (ZTE)’s branch in Romania, and ironworks of Hebei Iron and Steel Group in Serbia. The research findings show that the attitude of the three countries towards participating in the Belt and Road Initiative is positive and there is broad space for mutual cooperation between China and the three countries in jointly advancing the Initiative. China needs to enhance the exchanges and cooperation with them at various levels, provide more information about the Initiative, improve the local business environment and promote consensus with the relevant stakeholders.

Key words: the Belt and Road Initiative, Greece, Romania, Serbia