China will pledge a multi-billion dollar investment in Europe’s new infrastructure fund at a summit on June 29 in Brussels, according to a draft communique seen by Reuters – Beijing’s latest round of chequebook diplomacy to win greater influence.
While the exact amount is still to be decided, the pledge will mark the latest step in China’s efforts to shape global economic governance at the expense of the US, and follows major EU governments’ decision to join the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in defiance of Washington.
It is expected to come with a request for return investment in China’s westward infrastructure drive – the One Belt, One Roadinitiative – constructing major energy and communications links across Central, West and South Asia to as far as Greece.
“China announced that it would make [X amount] available for co-financing strategic investment of common interest across the EU,” the draft final statement says, leaving the amount unspecified and adding that agreements will be finalised at another meeting in September.
The decision to invite China into an EU fund could cause some friction with Washington
An EU diplomat said the Chinese contribution was likely to be “in the billions”.
Asked about China’s plans, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters yesterday: “To my knowledge, China is still conducting research. Currently, we don’t have any details,” Lu said.
The European Commission said that China had contacted the EU executive about the fund but declined to give more details at a regular news briefing in Brussels.
EU and Chinese officials have told Reuters that Chinese banks are looking mainly at telecoms and technology projects.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who will attend the summit in Brussels, will agree with EU leaders that the €315 billion fund will “create opportunities for China to invest in the EU, in particular in infrastructure and innovation sectors”.
If sealed, the deal will be a success for European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, who faced scepticism last year when he proposed the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), because EU governments are putting in little seed money.
France, Germany, Italy and Poland have each announced they will contribute €8 billion, while Spain and Luxembourg have pledged smaller contributions.
The bloc is relying mainly on private investors and development banks to fund projects selected from an initial list of almost 2,000 submitted by the 28 member states, from airports to flood defences, that are together worth €1.3 trillion.
A big Chinese investment might raise questions about governance of the fund, which is so far strictly a European institution. An EU diplomat said it was not known whether China would seek representation commensurate with its stake.
The decision to invite China into an EU fund could cause some friction with Washington, which is wary of Beijing’s rising influence and upset that Europe rebuffed its calls to stay out of the AIIB.
China is already testing US dominance in Latin America, offering the region $250 billion in investment over the next decade, while Chinese companies have poured money into Africa to guarantee commodity supplies in exchange for building new roads, hospitals and rail lines.
The US and human rights groups complain that China and its firms are wielding influence partly through corruption and turning a blind eye to labour and environmental standards and human rights. Similar criticisms were long levelled at Western multinationals in developing countries.
Alessandro Carano, an adviser to the European Commission on the fund, defended the decision to welcome Chinese investors.
“The purpose is to mobilise the liquidity in the market. We don’t differentiate among the owners of the funds,” Carano said. “China is a big investor already. We don’t want any prejudice.”
In return for its investment, China wants a quid pro quo with Europe, whereby European companies and governments would take a greater interest in President Xi Jinping’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative.