[Observation Summary] The Spring Festival is approaching, and China holds summits of leaders with 17 Central and Eastern European countries.

In the context of the global spread of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, whether it is to join hands to fight the epidemic, promote recovery, or to build a high-quality "Belt and Road" and jointly address climate change, the common interest between China and Central and Eastern European countries and even Europe as a whole is expanding. .

At this summit hosted by President Xi Jinping, all parties reached consensus and jointly drew a blueprint for future development.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Weibing

　　February 9, the twenty-eighth lunar month of the lunar calendar.

In the afternoon of the same day, President Xi Jinping hosted the China-CEEC Leaders Summit via video and delivered a keynote speech. This is also the highest-level leader meeting since the establishment of the cooperation mechanism.

　　At the meeting, President Xi Jinping focused on the development trend of the times, summarized the four principles of China-CEEC cooperation, and put forward four suggestions on the development of China-CEEC cooperation under the new situation.

　　Standing at a new starting point, exploring new ideas, proposing new initiatives, and drawing new blueprints, this summit will have important and far-reaching significance for China-CEEC cooperation and the development of China-EU relations in the future.

(1) Seize the "time"

　　At present, the global catastrophe and a century of major changes are superimposed and intertwined.

On the one hand, fighting the new crown pneumonia epidemic is the most urgent task at present; on the other hand, the world economy is in deep recession. If we want to coordinate epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development, we must find a new fulcrum and new momentum.

　　Against this background, China and Central and Eastern European countries have overcome practical difficulties and held leaders’ summits, which is a true portrayal of the determination of all countries to work together to overcome difficulties and seek common development.

　　"If you have something to do, please discuss it with you", "Let the partners have gains", "Develop together in openness and tolerance", "Grow through innovation"... President Xi Jinping summarized the principles of cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries in this way.

　　It is not difficult to find that this is in line with the multilateralism principle that China has always advocated and the construction of an open world economy.

This is not only a summary of the past, but also an inspiration for the future.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Tao

　　Beginning this year, China has begun to implement the 14th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development, and embarked on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country; the release of the "2021 China-CEEC Cooperation Beijing Activity Plan" at the summit is the next stage for both The cooperation has clarified the direction and planned the path.

　　For both parties, the moment should not be missed.

Based on the new development stage, implementing new development concepts, and building a new development pattern, China's super-large market composed of 1.4 billion people and more than 400 million middle-income groups and the potential for domestic demand will be fully released, creating more demand and bringing more opportunities for the world .

　　As President Xi Jinping said, China's continued development and opening up will inject strong momentum into the recovery and growth of the world economy, and will also open up a broader space for China-CEEC cooperation.

(2) Operational research "potential"

　　In 2020, China-EU relations will take the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to achieve important breakthroughs and fruitful results. The two sides signed a geographical indication agreement, completed investment agreement negotiations on schedule, and established a green and digital dialogue mechanism. The cooperation momentum is positive and it shows that it is advancing with the times. Vitality.

　　Take advantage of the momentum.

The summit is a follow-up to a series of major cooperation progress between China and the EU, and many concrete results will be implemented in the cooperation mechanism.

As President Xi Jinping said, China-CEEC cooperation is an important part of China-EU relations, and the positive development of China-EU relations has also brought new opportunities for China-CEEC cooperation.

　　President Xi Jinping always attaches importance to friendly relations with Central and Eastern European countries. Since 2012, he has met with leaders of the Czech Republic, Serbia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria and other countries to improve the level of partnership between China and these countries.

　　During the epidemic, President Xi Jinping spoke with leaders of Central and Eastern European countries many times, and all parties expressed their positive wishes to meet as soon as possible.

　　Actively planning ahead, the “cloud gathering” of leaders can be described as conforming to the wishes of all parties, continuing the general trend of China-EU cooperation, and responding to the development trend of the times.

　　Take advantage of the situation.

China-CEEC cooperation is an influential cross-regional cooperation platform.

At the summit, President Xi Jinping proposed “face up to the challenge of the epidemic and strengthen the confidence of cooperation in overcoming the difficulties”, “focus on interconnection and unblock the cooperative arteries of interconnected development”, “adhere to a pragmatic orientation and expand mutually beneficial cooperation results”, and “focus on green development and build The four-point proposal of "Future-oriented cooperation momentum" enriches the connotation of China-CEEC cooperation, leads the planning of the future direction of bilateral cooperation, and injects new vitality into bilateral cooperation.

(3) Pay attention to "practical"

　　"Grasp the implementation" and "see results" are the consistent styles of Chinese leaders in promoting cooperation between China and all parties.

　　As an important link connecting the Asian and European continents, Central and Eastern European countries are natural partners for the “Belt and Road” cooperation with China. They are the first to explore cross-regional cooperation and co-construct the “Belt and Road” initiative, and are the first to realize the “Belt and Road” cooperation agreement. Full coverage is a strong proof.

　　On this basis, the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries has achieved a number of tangible gains in the past nine years: a total of more than 30,000 trains have been operated between China and Europe, the Hungary-Serbia railway, the port of Piraeus in Greece, and Smeder A large number of cooperative projects such as the Lovol Steel Plant and the Pelješac Bridge in Croatia have achieved gratifying results...

On May 9, 2020, the China-Europe Express train loaded with epidemic prevention materials departed from Wujiashan Station in Wuhan to Belgrade, the capital of the Republic of Serbia, to support Serbia and neighboring countries in fighting the new crown pneumonia epidemic.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xiao Yijiu

　　These visible and tangible fruits of cooperation have benefited different countries and different groups of people, enabling China and Central and Eastern European countries to achieve their goals of boosting their respective development and enhancing people's well-being.

　　At this summit, President Xi Jinping announced a series of important cooperation initiatives and measures: continue to provide vaccines to relevant countries within his capacity; promote the construction of the China-CEEC Customs Information Center, and the China-Europe-European Sea Express route countries along the customs clearance coordination consultation point; In the next five years, we will import products worth more than 170 billion U.S. dollars from Central and Eastern European countries; support Fudan University to open a campus in Hungary; propose the establishment of a China-CEEC Innovation Cooperation Research Center, and hold a China-CEEC Youth Science and Technology Talent Forum...

　　Starting from the beginning and keeping promises fully reflects the pragmatic nature and broad prospects of China-CEEC cooperation, and also shows that China attaches great importance and sincere desire to deepening this cooperation mechanism.

Publisher: Zhao Cheng

Planning: Huo Xiaoguang

Coordinator: Liu Hua, Zhu Dongju, Wang Xuan

Lead writer: Zheng Mingda

Vision｜Editor: Yang Wenrong, Jiang Xiao, Wang Qiuyun

Produced by Xinhua News Agency