China’s Expanding Mediterranean Footprint

Plamen Tonchev, Head of the Asia Unit at the Institute of International Economic Relations, discusses the expanding north-south transport corridor from Piraeus, the difficulties in defining foreign direct investment and the lack of awareness about China in Greece. The New Silk Road Project (www.thenewsilkroadproject.com) channel features interviews from key actors and academics related to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, focusing on its trade and foreign policy aspects. In June 2018, the team travelled from London to Yiwu in Eastern China documenting some of its key emerging economic corridors and conducting interviews at critical infrastructure hubs along its land based components. It aims to compile the most geographically comprehensive and authoritative set of interviews on the topic to date. The New Silk Road Project is supported by Jeep, Center for Strategic and International Studies, University of Saint Andrews, Dezan Shira and Magellan Capital. Interviewer: Charles Stevens Producer: Tom Groves Editor: Tom Groves, Charles Stevens Graphics: William Chamberlain Recording: Tom Micklethwait, Robert Krawczyk, Wade Shepard Recording Date – 15 June 2018 Location – Athens