That's an excellent question.
One of the things we need to reflect on in terms of the belt and road initiative is that it filled a gap. China provided financing for infrastructure at a time when in some places that financing might not have been more readily available. Also, I would point to the COVID pandemic. China provided vaccines when vaccines were in short supply in other places. I think the vaccines were not as effective as others, but it was a symbolic gesture.
In terms of countering influence—that's a very big question—we need to go back to the fundamentals. It's about having a presence in the region, a diplomatic presence, so that we can identify how other actors are engaging in that kind of financing and support, how we can counter it and where the avenues are for our engagement.
I support a lot of what my colleagues said about the women, peace and security agenda. Gender equality has lost its appeal in the current global backlash against gender equality, but the evidence is 100% crystal clear that supporting gender equality and doing concrete things like ensuring labour force participation—Kosovo has the lowest labour force participation in Europe—are measures that can contribute to more peaceful societies.