Continues in both directions. China has a gigantic plan for a Global Network of ports, roads, railways, and other infrastructures to connect china to the world. This belt and Road Initiative dumped the new silk road, has a clear strategy. The thought to not have ideas has everyone knew. This is about brutal, self interest, both economic and geopolitical, and how to accept that cloud im. It was my own game. Recently the cult 19 pandemic highlighted the risks inherent in such global trade structures thus, so to, and i think this should be a lesson to us in terms of dependence on china, english, distinguishing market. The best place to learn about such dependency is where the new seal growed is already a reality. We visited 3 cities to see how big chinas presence in europe currently and how dependent the people affected feel. Ah, our 1st stop is do sport in germany, home to the biggest inland container port on the planet, comprising 21 harbors and 130 cranes. Last year alone, it handled more than 4000000 containers. Do sport is one of the european termini of chinas monumental new silk road project, which many, including the Port Authority company, see as a positive development. Isnt there . What were the hotspot in europe optional by far the most profitable location and fix the standard . Its not as if they chose to his book because its pretty topped off youll buy, might also soonest his blue do spoke is a city shaped by the coal and steel industries. And by their decline, after struggling to adapt and restructure its economy, the city welcomed the commercial opportunities from becoming a major junction on chinas revived silk road. President she jin pings 1st ever state visit to germany in 2014 included a trip to deuce bog. He welcomed the freight train, arriving from china, a symbolic confirmation of du spoke, becoming part of the silk road. Refreshed by him, i expect to see a significant boost for our operations. The Chinese Market is of such paramount importance that our port has to use this opportunity for by going over the, the new silk road is an undertaking of colossal proportions. It includes 2 railway routes, crossing asia, and then europe, one via russia, bella, ruth and poland, and another further south taking in central asia, iran and turkey. Theres also a ceiling between china and america. Raynan lee, the indian ocean and the suez canal, and new air freight routes all designed to increase trade volume between china and europe. But the belt and Road Initiative incorporates far more than just trade with europe. It is already seen the construction of countless bridges, tunnels, railway lines, roads, and ports across asia and africa. In most cases, built by chinese firms with chinese workers. The biggest Infrastructure Project of the 21st century involves enormous investments that are largely welcomed by the countries in question. While ultimately serving to enhance chinas power and influence. The good of due spoke already had a highly developed infrastructure in place, making it a particularly attractive location for chinese importers. Around 30 trains a week currently travel back and forth between china and deuce, book each journey covers around 11000 kilometers and takes around 2 weeks on board. Are close medicinal products, electronics, Automotive Parts and toys. Almost a 3rd of all chinese goods arriving in europe by train or offloaded induce book of nist on onvia. Frankly, we initially thought was a crazy idea, mom, a trend from china to dos books on, but lets let them go ahead i deem since then from the Public Awareness has been greater than the Economic Significance for extreme. Of course, the trains with all these colorful chinese characters on the containers look interesting. But to put it into perspective before the pandemic, we typically had close to 30 trains a week, going to and from china. And we do again now, funnel narceena over an entire year that adds up to between 25300000 standard size containers. From deuce both there offloaded for further dispatch via a network of c and bland routes to 92 cities and ports across europe. Or theyre sent back to china. A growing number of Chinese Companies have now set up business induce book. The company l m a r, opened a Logistics Center here. It capitalizes on the advantages of transportation by rail, which is cheaper than air freight and faster than buy ship. Gina african went on, my china currently has a very good infrastructure. That means if i want to make a car, for example of b, w, or a tesla, where do i get a missing bolt . Caught on. Sure. I can buy it from one of the factories in the industrial park, next door, public and living. Yeah. Thats, thats my infrastructure. Thats money. Postwar. So in the long term, a long cuz its difficult to replace china because they already have the infrastructure in place or guar fonda, but the new silk road project. First and foremost, serves chinas strategy for greater global influence. We wanted before the huffman stuff with nobody at the port of those burg thought this was set up, but the Chinese Government or she champagne for the benefit of the world. Its a big glucose. Everyone knew this is about brutal, self interest, both economic and geopolitical who to show and how to accept that firsthand. Thus why even cloud dummy was one again for president. She jen paying the initiative was part of a Long Term Plan geared to the milestone year of 2049. The 100th anniversary of the founding of the peoples republic is lago. Its huge to know. Did you actually fuel for the current leadership in beijing . She so she jen, pings line up is the aim is to make china the Central Global power over the next few decades to all reached dixon sutton. And that means subaru 1st, keeping the u. S. As economic hedge many and check it was all. And then he gl taking its place. Id say, sprinkler elsa love jurors. The objective, say various political analysts is to establish a new world order in which china is the pre eminent power, with various repercussions for europe claw is those. I know that one of the u. S. Is strengths is its network of alliances on wi fi. Router plays a major role here, g to its economically technological and political clout, to overstate the laws on serrato. So what the regime in b jing wants to do is drive as depot edge as possible between the u. Picking at the u. S. Were pleased to even look for so little constitution to it or want to was ought to apply for the silk road project. Could be just such a wedge for partners. It poses a range of dangerous in terms of new dependencies. Exertion of power through trade is the new reality that for a growing number of observers is cause for alarm once gets better on female maintaining trade benefits us and china with. But you have to make sure trade doesnt open the door for political power being exercised guide and put it for math models to ultimately it comes down to the liberal values we have and want to defend the v. This is what i didnt loan, and then you have china with it stick tutorial surveillance state system with teen to ensure the same in various countries along that route. Starboard is young, so as such that does pose a threat to our way of life. Oh, i know, i know, but also the williams wasnt our 2nd destination is genuine home to one of the oldest and largest ports on the mediterranean coast. But its in need of modernization and expansion. While the cities, road and railings are likewise in poor shape, which is why chinese investments were a welcome development. Genoa is now also part of the new silk road and the center of the la gory, a regions cluster of for trade ports in p as a previously called the port of singapore authority. Opened an office here, p as a, as one of the biggest Port Terminal operators in the world. And a partner of both the new silk road and Chinese State own shipping company cosco. Together with costco, its the biggest investor in the regional port operator. The terminals 5 cranes had the capacity to handle over half a 1000000 containers a year. But in 2021 shifted only half that amount. Ship traffic has been down due to the pandemic. And then theres the growing size factor. Todays new container ships are up to 400 meters long and can accommodate up to 20000 containers too big to dock here. But there are plans to change that crystal park. This is not a regional portfolio. Its always been International Legacy which will increase further. Truth of these corporations, it will be good. All right, you illegal pudgy and his fellow Union Representatives face a dilemma. The Foreign Investment is key to securing local jobs at the port, but it comes at a price. Chinese companies have different concepts of speed and efficiency and are keen to take control. Its a question of jobs on the one hand versus workers rights and conditions on the other. The unions in genoa are preparing for conflict in his eddie latin. Ill theme, but the chinese came here with their stopwatches romano. The they had their own system that involves permanently monitoring. Everyone thought that been sought and that resulted in a serious clash with the union. I thought it was, its, i, cindy, got it. The grid, the to put a but this is why were preparing to defend ourselves. If need be the best in order to be able to negotiate for the years to come in, which will be the size of that person yet. Because from when you have a great, which is anxiety over chinese dominance is growing. People fear an accelerated pace of work, permanent surveillance and dropping standards. But ultimately those fears are often outweighed by the prospect of job losses and financial hardship. Nobody wants to see a port with empty docks. Elaborating bought them what all the working at a port is barry demanding. 365. 00 days a year. 247. We need a system that guarantees a decent retirement for the one group while also ensuring jobs for the next generation laws. Mccrae oddly because if we cant provide young people with jobs, poverty here will grow, man, im will that each is in. But if you the p. S. A logo looms large over the entrance to the new modern genuine prop container facility 20 kilometers west of the old port. Its deep sea terminals can unload to 400 meter long, ultra large container ships at the same time. Singapore based p. S a has strong commercial ties with china. One of the 1st big changes by the investors was to replace the old italian crane facilities with gigantic new structures by shanghai port equipment, supplier z p, m c, and installed by chinese workers. But at least people say the port is still majority italian, owned he bought in boston, i said have been duty, lab reports cannot be sold to the most that investors can get is a Lease Agreement which has a fixed term indiana. And then, and after that, expires account, the lease is subject to a new tender process. So going code jet to the godaddy up bottle a look when the this prevents Chinese Companies from acquiring complete genus or at least majority ownership of a port. Are all gonna cwa majority diarrhea, a gall dart, the john with ubida arlington, looking forward to the lease contracts and other cooperation agreements that consolidate the influence of chinese. Investors tend to have a duration of several decades. The prod, terminal has mushrooms over the last few years. 12 mega cranes have sprung up here since the 1st was installed in 2016. For the investors, a port is merely a stepping stone, a gateway to the rest of europe, and a crucial link in the supply chain to consumers across the continent. With the misty made that were supported versus learning foresees Infrastructure Projects often lead to the creation of industrial parks, free trade, soon known and trade investment zone is the one in which you repeat companies. In this case, italian, i worked with chinese firms, shanese worth oh, garzo. The in here is to boost imports and exports in both countries. I had an import export well met chalet need. If i is in a dozen austin all the headquarter of Hong Kong Based operator. Carry logistics in milan, the italian Logistics Service provider to via italia. Used to be here. But in 2017, its founder guido nas addie, sold, his majority steak to carry logistics, strengthening chinas control over its supply chains. Last ladiva ot these them. Although our Company Makes extensive use of the port of Genuine Services in alta and all of its terminals are, youre paying the port operators are a vital part of the logistics chain that kathy analogies together. Unfortunately, italy suffers from a prevailing infrastructure problema for us. That means difficulties related to highways, railways and other transportation routes. When he got fuel on a bit out, a saw that the little v carry logistics claims to be the worlds 8 largest Freight Services provider. It oversees the transportation and storage of all manner of products exported by china from pharmaceuticals and chemical goods to food, clothing, and electronics. To via italia, founder guido nazarene made a conscious decision to sell his company to a chinese firm with global ambitions. He soon saw what it was that the new owners were primarily interested in. A moment. The luck we saw on the path of the capital g at the time of the takeover slowly, we thought everything would change over night. I left it to the me and in terms of both management to call law and the work procedures. Hes still not course he stay after soon, but the only real change came in one area. Paula everything connected to cost control statistics and the capacity to gather data on our operations. And also im also part of the, the, the hall of which became a priority after the arrival of Kerry Logistics because logistics. The carry Logistics Network encompasses around 1000 locations in over 50 countries. The company is mainly active on the Online Retail front. It sells goods straight from manufacturer to consumer, or to distributors such as amazon and alibaba. With no middle men involved, this means complete control over the supply chain. Stephano pull jani is head of integrated logistics at carries italian subsidiary etching. When he finally known you 5 years ago, we didnt have any online operations. Doc was today. This entire section of the warehouse is for e commerce, anthony and suppliers not just from china, but elsewhere in eastern asia have played a huge part in put on there. But the Chinese Companies are naturally the most important ones. Conveying both goods and trade secrets, things were thought that in magazine which this note of the warehouse has 2 areas that are unfortunately off limits for commer cruise, equally odd and we still there where we store material for the 5 g devices. Of 2 Major Chinese manufactures. So filming is not what admitted for security reasons, liada the activities. There are very specific go right up to the assembly of those devices, sequestered highly sensitive Chinese Technology for the 5 g telecoms. Networks of Chinese Companies, including assembly chinas strategy of maximum control, evidently extends to more than just the supply chain side note, yamuna feliciano cooper, is that the solution we provide those everything from picking up goods from chinese suppliers, organizing the containers and importing the goods to italy, including customs clearances, the my gods, plus storage it and final delivery. I mean typically that means customers have a single point of contact and dont have to lose time organizing the supply chain. Logistics on either the supply chain. Been in the fall kit and kazi complet supply chains essentially being 100 percent chinese controlled, obviously means data transparency were china was, was one. Ive isnt vision, theyll know which goods are headed from where to, where does it stand, which could, of course, weaken our Competitive Position about suppose its your not to dish fission. And if theres only a handful of suppliers for ports, for rail transportation or for maritime shipping, then theyll control the prices he done to the detriment of our companies. And it does a little phone switch be on the common one end of the chinese supply Chain Network comprises alibaba, an subsidiary tao, akin to amazon, ebay and a bank, all in one. According to company figures, it sells 48000. 00 products per minute and has a market capitalization of 700000000000. 00. Lou, our 3rd destination is the belgian city of the edge where ali baba is building the biggest Logistics Center in europe. My the bob i hope that i havent done an in depth analysis, but ali baba, shirley picked leash because it has a cargo airport with very high capacity. Thats open. 247 of leanne proper is the 4th most populous city in belgium. And the metro area is home to 600000 people. It used to be called the fiery city due to the many blast furnaces that once fueled the local economy. But like deuce book, the city has struggled to recover from the end of coal mining. And the almost complete disappearance of the Steel Industry in the 20 tens, the Unemployment Rate sometimes exceeded 20 percent. The whole now is that the cargo airport was no night time restrictions will change things for good. Its quietly grown to become the 5th largest freight airport in europe. According to the operator. Here to location has been a critical factor with increased commercial traffic going hand in hand with growth. Its a win win situation for both ali baba and the airport. I believe are called figures. Alibaba is helping to develop trade with china, luca, leanne, and all other airports in europe. School. China is a kind of factory for the world and is as such, causing an increase in air freight to airports arr