Topic: The China-Balkan cooperation in the context of the BRI: opportunities and challenges

Topic: The China-Balkan cooperation in the context of the BRI: opportunities and challenges Author: Ana Blazheska, Senior Researcher at the Center for Research and Policy Making, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia BRI – POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN CHINA AND THE WESTERN BALKANS: THE CASE OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA ABSTRACT The Balkans, with its geostrategic position on the EU-China path. [...] This paper aims to analyze the prospects for economic cooperation between China and the Western Balkans in the context of the BRI, focusing particularly on the case of the Republic of Macedonia. [...] It will analyze the initial expectations for economic cooperation, the current state of play and possible future developments in order to provide an answer to the question: has the BRI fulfilled the expectations of the Republic of Macedonia in terms of economic cooperation? The added value of this paper is the application of the rational choice theory to verify or falsify the following hypothesis:. [...] It strives to provide an answer to the question: has the BRI fulfilled the expectations of the Republic of Macedonia in terms of economic cooperation? The first part analyzes the initial expectations for economic cooperation and the general interests of both China and Macedonia; the second part examines the current state of play and the constraints which impact the cooperation, namely: on the Mace. [...] Using a concessional loan from the Chinese Export Import Bank in the amount of US$ 677.3 million (to be paid back over 20 years, with 2% interest rate and 5 years grace period), the Macedonian government started the construction of a section of the highway linking the cities of Kichevo and Ohrid (57km) and the construction of a section of the highway linking the capital, Skopje, to the city of Sht.