Author: Wang Yiwei

Posted: November 3,2016

 

Premier Li Keqiang embarked on an eight-day trip to Central Asia and Europe on Wednesday, during which he will visit Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Latvia and Russia. His participation in the 5th Meeting of the Heads of Government of China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in Riga, Latvia, is expected to add fresh momentum to the «16+1» cooperative mechanism and the Belt and Road Initiative (the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road).

The 16+1 mechanism proposed by Beijing is an exchange program involving 1,000 people from China and 16 CEE countries to enhance people-to-people communications.

CEE countries account for about a quarter of all «roadside» countries and play a key role in the world’s emerging market, which allows them to cooperate with China on a highly complementary basis, especially when it comes to connectivity, capacity cooperation and cross-border trade.

The Hungary-Serbia railway, scheduled for completion by the end of 2017, will extend to the important Greek port of Piraeus and could become a European pivot connecting the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

The China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation, adopted at the 2013 China-EU summit, has endorsed the 16+1 mechanism and enhanced its status as a new platform for European integration, which should silence people accusing Beijing of using a «divide-and-rule» strategy toward Europe.

New financing platforms, such as a China-CEE investment bank under deliberation, will promote the financial integration not just between the two parties, but also within Europe. In fact, the European Union has come to realize the importance of the 16+1 mechanism as a supplement to the China-Europe relationship. That explains why the EU is now an observer at the Meeting of Heads of Government of China and Central and Eastern European Countries.

CEE countries are relatively eager for Beijing’s technological and financial support compared with other EU members, opening a rare window of opportunity for China-Europe cooperation. So, under the framework of the 16+1 mechanism, China has every reason to deepen its partnership with Europe and expedite the Belt and Road’s expansion.

Read more: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/2016-11/03/content_39627170.htm