European Union member states taking part in Chinese-led infrastructure projects must make sure that they do not allow this engagement with China to undermine Europe’s common foreign policy stance toward the Asian superpower, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned.
Merkel made the remark at a joint news conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. According to Reuters, the German leader stressed that there was nothing intrinsically wrong with Chinese investment projects such as the railway connecting Hungary and Serbia, but she was also keen to highlight potential dangers to EU unity.
“I see great value in EU members who participate in this initiative also representing our common foreign policy toward China, because otherwise the EU would be allowing itself to be divided against itself,” Merkel told reporters Tuesday.