As the BRI approaches its 10-year milestone since its official launch, it is important to reflect on its current state and its impact on the global political and economic order. The BRI has involved over 150 countries and 30 international organisations in the past decade, becoming a significant platform fostering trade, investment, and financial cooperation. However, concerns have been raised about the geopolitical risks and economic security regarding the BRI. In response, the EU-led Global Gateway Program was crafted as an alternative to the BRI. Recently, Italy, the first and only G7 member engaged in the BRI, pulled out from a renewed term of BRI-related cooperation. This requires us to conduct a more profound study of the nature of BRI and delve into its multi-dimensional impacts, especially in the context of the increasing securitisation of global trade and investment legal orders, also known as the ‘geoeconomic turn’ in scholarship.
For this roundtable, the International Economic Law and Policy Working Group at EUI has invited five distinguished speakers to provide their insights on the BRI in a rapidly changing geoeconomic context. The speakers include Professor Giuseppe Martinico from the School of Advanced Studies Sant'Anna, and Professor Heng Wang from Singapore Management University, who will discuss the BRI from comparative law and international economic law aspects, respectively. Professor Yanhong Sun, an economist from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, will provide an insider perspective on the BRI. Dr Giulio Pugliese and Dr Aurelio Insisa from the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at EUI will delve into the international relations aspect, with a specific focus on the changing approach to BRI of Italy and the G7Plus. Their presentations will be followed by an open discussion led by EUI’s Max Weber fellow Dr Francisco-José Quintana, and Dr Gaoheng Zhang, an associate professor from the University of British Columbia. PhD researchers at the Law Department, Kunhao Yang and Tim Ellemann, will co-chair this roundtable with an opening remark by Professor Sergio Puig.
Co-organisers:
EUI International Economic Law and Policy Working Group (Department of Law)
EU-Asia project (Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies)
About the Working Group:
The International Economic Law and Policy Working Group is a researcher-led platform in EUI that brings together researchers and practitioners to discuss the multifaceted world of international trade and investment law as well as economic integration in the context of global legal order. Our Working Group is dedicated to an open atmosphere that welcomes participation from all interested individuals, including fellows, students, PhD researchers, professors, and visiting academics, to join us as speakers and discussants with diverse backgrounds and their original approaches. If you would like to receive updates about our Working Group events or join our email list, you can send us an email.