CHINA THROUGH A EUROPEAN LENS

How has the Chinese notion of a “community of common destiny for humankind” been received in France? The short answer is that is hasn’t been. But the language isn’t exactly unfamiliar either.

China actively promotes the idea that the world is a “community of common destiny,” and that China’s values can be shared by all. Now formally a partner in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Italy should have a more open discussion about what exactly those values are. 

China’s language about the building of a “community of destiny” hasn’t gained much ground in Sweden. But it will have to compete for space with the Swedish-Finnish brotherhood. 

In recent years, Poland has been seen by some observers as a willing decoy for China as it seeks to wedge itself into Europe, and the arrest in January of a Huawei executive seemed like a change of heart. But were things ever so simple?

Echowall speaks to Italian scholar Ivan Franceschini about Italy’s hopes for deeper engagement with China, one year after he penned an open letter objecting to the enthusiastically pro-China remarks of the country’s new junior minister for economic development, Michele Geraci.