25.11.2022 / China-CEEC Cooperation in the Context of Global Changes

The 8th High-Level Symposium of Think-Tanks of China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe was held in the Serbian capital Belgrade on the 16th of November. The event was titled “China-CEEC Cooperation in the Context of Global Changes” and was co-hosted by the Institute of International Politics and Economics in Belgrade, the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the China-CEEC Think-Tank Network. Ivica Dacic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, took part in the Symposium along with Chen Bon, Ambassador of China in Belgrade, and Zhao Qi, secretary-general of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Ivica Decic noted that the total trade has increased by 142.6%. He expressed his opinion that the cooperation should further deepen and stated that Serbia is committed to contribute to this end. He underlined the benefits of the cooperation between the two sides and said that the Mechanism for cooperation should be expanded so it can build on the existing relations and fill the gaps in some sectors which have remained underexploited.

Chen, who has overseen the development of the Mechanism for cooperation over the past decade, shared the role of the extensive consultations and joint efforts in the success of the Mechanism in increasing the overall trade, interconnectedness, investments, education and agriculture. She stated that China has become the biggest trading partner of the CEE region outside of Europe as well as the biggest foreign investor in the region. She underlined the beneficial relations and how they improved the economic resilience of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and China.

The source of this information is Xinhua.