16+1, which is simply a format that barely anyone remembers

chiny24.com 1 year ago

Few people remember that... On April 26, 2012, the first summit of the countries was held in Warsaw as part of the fresh expression of cooperation China – countries of Central and east Europe (chin. 中国 – 中东欧国家合作), called the initiative 16+1.

It was an initiative of the Chinese MFA, formally named in English China-Central and east European Cooperation, to advance economic, investment and social relations between China and fourteen countries of the region: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Greece joined the format in 2019 and the Baltic Republic (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) withdrew in 2022.

The China-CEEC observers are the European Union, Belarus, Switzerland, Austria and the European Bank for Reconstruction and improvement EBRD.

The organisation was to focus on applicable cooperation and set up a structure based on a mechanics of gathering leaders and covering various areas specified as economy, trade, culture, education, youth, agriculture, tourism, discipline and technology, health, analytical centres, NGOs and contacts between friendly cities. The China-CEEC Secretariat is located in Beijing, and in each of the partner countries of Central and east Europe there are “national coordinators”. Mr Marcin Przycz (2019-2023). In the first period, meetings of the leaders of the states were held annually. The last 1 was in 2019 in Dubrovnik.

The first enthusiasm to attract Chinese investments to the region gradually declined. There were far less than expected. The China-CEEC initiative began to look for a Chinese tool to make a circumstantial bridgehead in the region for China's economical expansion in Europe. In addition to beginning the region to investment, it was besides intended to form China-EU relations and to become a tool for building a affirmative image of China in Europe.

There has been a decline in assurance among European countries in China's policy. On the another hand, regional cooperation in this expression has met China's expectations to a tiny extent.

The main obstacles that are defined on the Chinese side are the immense diversity of the region, the barriers related to European Union law, the asymmetry of the economical needs of both parties, and the reluctance to cooperate within the region itself. In many cases, the actions were superficial and façade. China yet began utilizing the format to build long-term bilateral relations in the selected countries of the region, to make the foundations of its presence in Central and east Europe.

After 12 years there was small left of the task formed by then Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Not only due to the fact that China's policy towards east Europe is not a precedence of the PRC. On the side of the countries of the region, even the façade form of cooperation fell. 14 European countries are presently participating in China-CEEC. Recently, the Czech Republic has been more and more frequently mentioned.

The China-CEEC Permanent Secretariat inactive operates at the Chinese abroad Ministry (since 2012). But is there a Permanent Investment Secretariat in Warsaw (launched in 2014)? It's hard to verify.

There are respective sectoral associations and organisations coordinated by individual countries (e.g. agricultural cooperation is coordinated by Bulgaria, rail transport – Serbia).

In 2014, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2015/849. Ningbo (Port City of Zhejiang Province) began to organise trade fairs with the countries of Central and east Europe, and in 2017 established the first and only demonstration region of economical cooperation and trade between China and CEEC.

In 2019, Expo China-CEEC was elevated to the rank of an global event at national level. These fairs are possibly the only tangible proof of the continuing functioning of the format of the fact that this organization exists.

The mediocre interest in the countries of the region in the format proposed by Beijing has gained by far 2 countries: Hungary and Serbia. The format was not adopted, a tried expression of bilateral cooperation was adopted.

China, in its custom, despite the failure of the task in its first form, does not retreat from the initiative. possibly there'll be a better time for her. The situation in Europe is highly dynamic and can happen many times. Who knows if in a fewer years the China-CEEC format will get a fresh glow?

www.china-ceec.org/

Author: 梁安基 Andrzej Z. Liang, 上海 Shanghai, 中国 China

Email: [email protected]

Editorial: Leszek B.

Email: [email protected]