Source: Xinhua    Published: 2016-11-25

European and Chinese politicians and business people have shared the view that the Belt and Road Initiative can lead to better connection between Europe and China after intense discussions at a panel of the two-day Hamburg Summit "China Meets Europe" which opened on Wednesday.

Zhang Jianwei, vice chairman of Sinotrans & CSC Holdings Co. Ltd, said the Belt and Road Initiative offers many Chinese enterprises an opportunity to expand their market presence in countries and regions along the Belt and Road, so that a corridor connecting China and Europe can be built.

Ellis Mathews, head of division for China at the European External Action Service, noted that the European level will further understand the Belt and Road initiative to formulate corresponding policies in order to match the EU side of the policy with the Chinese policy.

Cooperating with China means a win-win situation for countries along the Belt and Road, said Jonathan Taylor, vice president of the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg.

Jens Meier, chief executive officer of Hamburg Port Authority, said that understanding another country requires figuring out their education, culture, and economic system, and then negotiating to find best practices.

The summit which is scheduled for Nov. 23 and 24 this year in the northern German city of Hamburg will deliver discussions, keynote speeches and panel meetings focusing on various topics, such as the fallout from Brexit, the Belt and Road Initiative and boosting efficiency in industrial manufacturing.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong is expected to address the closing session on Thursday as the guest of honor of the conference.

Initiated by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce in 2004, the biennial summit serves as an important platform for discussing China-EU economic cooperation.