Giles Mohan, a professor of international development at The Open University, said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) provides tangible development opportunities for Africa and Europe, rather than “traps.”
Speaking to Xinhua during the Fifth Interdisciplinary Conference on the Belt and Road Initiative organized by the Confucius Institute at Lancaster University, Mohan noted that many narratives in the West about the BRI are misleading. “There are partial or entirely false interpretations about the BRI. What really matters is how projects are implemented on the ground,” he said.
Having studied China’s activities in Africa since the early 2000s, Mohan rejected the so-called “debt trap diplomacy” claims. He stressed that projects supported by Chinese banks succeed when local governments clearly identify their development priorities. In Europe, he added, it is wrong to hastily label Chinese investments as a “security threat,” emphasizing, “People are beginning to realize that we need China, and China needs us.”
According to Mohan, the “China threat” rhetoric in the West often serves domestic political agendas. He pointed out that China’s strong position in renewable energy and electric vehicles is vital for Europe’s green transition goals. Chinese companies establishing production facilities in Europe not only strengthen supply chains but also create jobs, he said.
Mohan cited examples such as Chinese investments in Manchester Airport and city center renewal projects, as well as the improved efficiency of Greece’s Piraeus Port under the management of Chinese company COSCO. He emphasized that successful projects build strong ties with local communities. Highlighting the role of city diplomacy and educational cooperation in forming long-term partnerships, Mohan concluded, “The BRI should be seen less as a geopolitical strategy and more as a network of corridors and relationships developing between places.”