The Second Public Round Table - China and EU in the MENA Region
As part of a series of public round table discussions, this event will explore EU and Chinese perspectives on the role of The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The aim of this public round table is to bring together researchers, companies and government officials to discuss how the EU should position itself with regard to the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) in the MENA region. The discussion will include examining the short- as well as long-term prospects of the BRI and their relevance to the three regions.
Time: 13:30 - 16:30
Date: December 20, 2018
Location: Room 2.01 (Main auditorium - 1st floor), Wijnhaven Building
Turfmarkt 99
2511 DP The Hague
13:30-13:40 Opening and welcome by the chair: Ying Zhang (RSM)
13:40-13:50 Round of introductions by panelists
13:50-14:00 Introduction: MENA Region in the New Silk Roads
By Mohammadbagher Forough (Leiden University)
14:00-14:40 Statements by the panelists (5 minutes each)
Joanna Konings
Senior Economist International Trade Research, ING
H.E. Shujjat Rathore
Ambassador of Pakistan to the Netherlands
Mohammadbagher Forough
Leiden University – Clingendael Institute
Zheng Zhi
Chief Correspondent at China Radio International, Brussels
Tony van der Togt
Clingendael Institute – Strategic Advisor to Dutch MFA
14:14-15:00 Q&A with the audience
15:00-15:15 Coffee/Tea Break
15:15-16:30 A debate on the questions
16:30 End of program
Questions to be addressed by panelists include but are not limited to:
- What new geo-economic dynamics are taking place in the MENA region in
the context of BRI?
- How are the EU and MENA region reacting to the US trade war against China?
- What are the geopolitical consequences of this new geo-economics?
- What are the EU’s perspectives (opportunities and concerns) with regard the MENA region
and specifically the BRI investments in that region?
- What are Chinese perspectives on the MENA region (risks and opportunities)?
- What role can individual EU countries (such as the Netherlands) play in this new Eurasian
dynamics?
- What are the environmental impacts of these regional dynamics?
- How do the geopolitical risks in the MENA region affect business and trade?
- Other questions from the moderator and audience
The panelists discussed the role of the MENA region in the BRI informed by their area of expertise. In addition, the attendants questioned/challenged the panelists' arguments.
