Ana Alexandra Blidaru

The impact of China’s Belt and Road strategy on Romania

The China Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a global infrastructure program started in 2013 by the
Chinese government, soon after the installation of president Xi Jinping. Its aim is to recreate the
old Silk Road, joining together East and West, through roads, railways and also ports. The project
envisioned crossing over 70 countries, having a total budget of over 1 trillion dollars.

The BRI would facilitate easier transport of goods, easing import and export. But China’s main
motivation is not to create a global infrastructure, but rather to transform Eurasia into a trading
rival for the Transatlantic area. At the same time, the Belt and Road is a way for China to expend
its power and connections, create Chinese companies in other states and exploit the natural
resources, facilities and infrastructures of those partners. And this is why the project is viewed
with scepticism by many. The western rst world countries are more reluctant to join, but most
of the African countries and several from Latin America were interested in this collaboration.

Source: https://www.cfr.org/blog/countries-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-whos-and-whos-out

Geopolitics of World Business MBA in Marketing

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Ana Alexandra Blidaru

In just a couple of years, the Belt and Road grew bigger than expected, and even if it does not
operate projects in all countries, these partnerships give the BRI credibility.

Romania has a strategic position as it represents a gateway to Europe and the European Union.
Historically its geographical location, at the crossroads of East and West, on the Danube and at
the shores of the Black Sea, has always been a decisional factor in its politics and strategic
alliances. While in Europe the only other countries to discuss joining are Portugal and Italy,
Romania has joined the BRI early on.

As China is developing this new network, Romania wanted to seize the opportunity and offer its
strategic position, natural resources and ports. Being part of this global infrastructure might help
Romania import products at cheaper prices and develop its exports as well. China has also
declared its intentions of investing in key sectors of Romania and opening companies, thus
producing ”made in Europe” products.

But what Romania lacks are the national road infrastructure, highways and high speed railways. It
can not be a connection in the BRI if the goods would take too much time to cross the country.
The government must make this one of the priorities in the future years if they want to capitalize
on the geographical position of the country.

In theory this partnership sounds perfect. It remains to be seen the impact of the Chinese
companies on the Romanian market, on the local businesses and the unemployment.

SOURCES

The Economist, What is China’s belt and road initiative?, May 15th 2017,
Accessed January 31st, 2022
https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2017/05/14/what-is-chinas-belt-and-road-
initiative

The Economist, Italy’s plan to join China’s Belt and Road Initiative ruf es feathers, Mar 23rd 2019
Accessed January 31st, 2022
https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/03/21/italys-plan-to-join-chinas-belt-and-road-
initiative-ruf es-feathers

David Sacks, Countries in China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Who’s In And Who’s Out, Council on
Foreign Relations, March 24th, 2021
Accessed January 31st, 2022
https://www.cfr.org/blog/countries-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-whos-and-whos-out

Claudia-Iohana Voicu, Romania and the Belt and Road Initiative, The Market for Ideas,
Accessed January 31st, 2022
https://www.themarketforideas.com/romania-and-the-belt-and-road-initiative-a188/

Geopolitics of World Business MBA in Marketing

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