Poland – A Gate to the EU or a Bottleneck in the Belt and Road Initiative
Purpose: The research aims to analyse mutual relations between Poland and China in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), assess Poland’s involvement in this China-led project and identify the most significant factors affecting the cooperation between both countries. The multidimensional analysis is based on a set of criteria, which are in line with the BRI’s focus areas. The article discusses the achievements so far, current challenges and prospects for further Polish-Chinese cooperation in the institutional, logistics and infrastructural, trade, investment and financial dimensions, and people-to-people contacts as well. Design/Methodology/Approach: Both qualitative and quantitative methods are used to achieve the above-mentioned objectives. Findings: The authors identify and assess the main areas of Poland's activity in the BRI. They also point out potential solutions to the main problems related to Poland benefiting by this project. Practical Implications: Solutions falling within the scope of logistics and infrastructure can be quickly implemented and in a short time give an answer to the bottleneck problem within the BRI. Originality/Value: The article provides a comprehensive analysis of Poland-China relations in the context of the BRI and Poland’s engagement in the BRI. In this paper, the authors describe institutional, logistics and infrastructural, trade, investment, financial and people-to-people relations between China and Poland.