国内英语资讯:Belt and Road Initiative facilitates China-CEE cooperation: PwC_时事

国内英语资讯:Belt and Road Initiative facilitates China-CEE cooperation: PwC

BEIJING, April 21 -- The Belt and Road Initiative will facilitate win-win cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries, according to global accounting and consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Chinese businesses used to be more inclined to invest in resource-rich countries such as Russia and Kazakhstan, Piotr Romanowski, PwC partner on advisory business in CEE countries, told Xinhua.

"The Belt and Road Initiative has led to a massive change. Foreign direct investment (FDI) from China in Poland and the Czech Republic in 2016 was higher than the previous 15 years combined," Romanowski said.

Total FDI from China to the 16 CEE countries amounted to more than 9 billion U.S. dollars in 2016, up substantially from around 3 billion dollars in 2010, official data showed.

"China's economic miracle had always been something on TV but in recent years surging investment from Chinese companies has brought real business opportunities to the region," Romanowski said.

The Belt and Road Initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa based on ancient land and maritime trade routes, with the CEE as a critical link. It has been considered China's way to promote mutual development in the world.

After several years of preparation and exploration, Chinese companies have started to boost their investment and presence in CEE countries, Romanowski said.