The potential for investment in central and eastern European ( CEE ) countries as part of China 's One Belt , One Road infrastructure plan could cause a rift between these countries and western EU member states , says Małgorzata [UNK] , lecturer in Chinese politics at the University of Warsaw . The benefits of taking part in the BRI are proving irresistible to many countries—and not just in China’s immediate neighborhood. For instance , CEE states sent higher - ranking representatives to China 's Belt and Road Forum than did France and Germany . This shows that CEE states believe they are important to China 's European plans , said Jakimów . There is also concern among EU member states about the political influence that China would gain through large - scale investments in eastern Europe .
The potential for investment in central and eastern European ( CEE ) countries as part of China 's One Belt , One Road infrastructure plan could cause a rift between these countries and western EU member states , says Małgorzata [UNK] , lecturer in Chinese politics at the University of Warsaw . For instance , CEE states sent higher - ranking representatives to China 's Belt and Road Forum than did France and Germany . This shows that CEE states believe they are important to China 's European plans , said Jakimów . There is also concern among EU member states about the political influence that China would gain through large - scale investments in eastern Europe .