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Antwerp eyes role in China's 'One Belt, One Road' with new taskforce

Antwerp eyes role in China's 'One Belt, One Road' with new taskforce
The Port of Antwerp is targeting a role in China’s “One Road, One Belt” policy and the “Maritime Silk Road” with the setting up of a special task force.

As a major hub and trading port in Europe Antwerp sees itself has having a position in both the land and maritime routes and noted that during a recent state visit to China King Philippe of Belgium the country applied to join the new Asian Infrastructure Development Bank, which is the investment bank behind the strategy.

With Chinese President Xi Jiping telling his Belgian visitors last week, which included top port authority officials chairman Marc Van Peel and ceo Eddy Bruyninckx, that Antwerp had major role to play in the continent spanning project, the special taskforce will be set up this month.

In a continued growth of relations with China last Monday Antwerp port authorty signed a collaboration agreement with the China Development Bank and the Chengtong Holdings Group in which both parties have undertaken to look for a suitable site in the port of Antwerp to set up an EU-Africa-International Trade & Logistics Hub Centre.