On October 21, 2025, the 11th China-Central and Eastern European Countries (China-CEEC) High-Level Think Tank Symposium, co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the Secretariat of Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was held in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The theme of the conference was “The World at a Crossroads: China-CEEC Cooperation”.
Zhao Zhimin, Secretary-General of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) ,stated that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Europe. Looking back over the past half-century, China-EU relations have weathered storms and demonstrated strong resilience in cooperation. As a vital part of Europe, Central and Eastern Europe has been an active promoter of the development of China-EU relations. Particularly since the establishment of the China-CEEC Cooperation mechanism in 2012, both sides have achieved remarkable results in high-level exchanges, economic and trade relations, connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges, making significant contributions to the stability and prosperity of Europe and the world.Think tanks are crucial platforms for promoting the exchange of ideas among nations. Facing a world of turmoil and change, think tanks from China and CEE countries should deepen exchanges, strengthen collaboration, advance theoretical and policy innovation, and promote exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. They should work together to implement the global governance initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, contribute wisdom to ensure the steady and long-term progress of China-CEEC cooperation, and jointly write a new chapter in building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Former Croatian President Ivo Josipović opined that since the launch of the China-CEEC Cooperation mechanism in 2012, the two sides have carried out a series of cooperation projects in connectivity, trade, and investment, which have become a valuable supplement to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The mutually beneficial cooperation between Croatia and China has also deepened. The Pelješac Bridge, constructed by a Chinese enterprise, has not only significantly boosted the development of Croatia’s tourism, transportation, and logistics sectors but has also showcased to the world the exceptional speed and strength of Chinese engineering. In the future, the two countries should enhance cooperation in the green and digital sectors, gradually build a partnership driven by systematic innovation, continue to deepen cultural exchanges, and constantly elevate their cooperation to new heights.
Former Romanian President Emil Constantinescu remarked that Romania and China share a long history of interaction and a tradition of friendship. Romania was the third country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, and the two nations have always adhered to the principles of mutual respect, equality, and win-win cooperation, bringing tangible benefits to their peoples. Among these, people-to-people and cultural exchanges between Romania and China have played a unique role in the development of bilateral relations. Guided by the spirit of the Silk Road and bound by mutual learning between civilizations, both sides should continue to deepen historical and cultural cooperation and work together to build landmark projects for a “Civilization Silk Road,” allowing the people-to-people bond to become the profound foundation for the steady and long-term progress of Romania-China relations.
Qi Qianjin, the Chinese Ambassador to Croatia, stated that within the framework of China-CEEC Cooperation, China-Croatia relations serve as a model of practical cooperation that transcends geographical distances. China is willing to work with Croatia and other CEE countries, upholding the principles of equality, openness, pragmatism, and inclusiveness, and adhering to the spirit of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. Together, they will transform mutual trust into cooperation and ideas into action, summarizing experiences and planning for the future to jointly promote new achievements in bilateral relations and the China-CEEC Cooperation mechanism, thereby injecting more stability and positive energy into an uncertain world.
Chen Guoyou, Special Representative for China-CEEC Cooperation Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that over the past 13 years, through the joint efforts of all parties, the China-CEEC Cooperation mechanism has developed steadily and achieved fruitful results. It has effectively advanced the development of relations between China and CEE countries, as well as China-EU relations, providing a valuable reference for international cross-regional and cross-civilizational exchange and cooperation. At present, the world is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century. President Xi Jinping has proposed the Global Governance Initiative, offering a Chinese approach to strengthening and improving global governance. China is willing to leverage multilateral platforms such as the China-CEEC Cooperation mechanism to enhance communication and collaboration with all countries, making active efforts to promote a more just and equitable global governance system.
Feng Zhongping, Director of the Institute of European Studies at CASS, argued that the contemporary world is undergoing profound changes, and no single country can cope with such global challenges alone. In the face of deficits in peace, development, security, and governance, President Xi Jinping has proposed Four Global Initiatives, which precisely address global challenges in specific areas from different perspectives, providing ideas and direction for promoting balanced global development. Both China and Europe are advocates of multilateralism, both champion the maintenance of the international system with the United Nations at its core, and both are committed to promoting world multipolarity and economic globalization. China has always viewed its relationship with Europe from a strategic and long-term perspective, consistently regarding Europe as a comprehensive strategic partner and an important pole in a multipolar world. The continued deepening of China-EU cooperation will not only benefit both sides but also inject greater stability and certainty into the world.
Song Hong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Economics at CASS, mentioned that despite rising global economic and trade uncertainties, there is great potential for China and Europe to resolve differences through cooperation. A “Trump 2.0” scenario, promoting so-called “reciprocal tariffs” and forcing 185 trading partners to make concessions to the US, threatens to cause the collapse of the multilateral trading system. China and Europe should jointly resist protectionism and unilateralism, work together to promote the restoration and reform of the dispute settlement mechanism, and coordinate to advance the updating of rules on issues such as digital trade, e-commerce, climate change, and green trade. By doing so, they can rebuild a predictable multilateral order and consolidate China-EU strength to safeguard free trade, defend multilateralism, and address global challenges.
Mato Njavro, Dean of the Zagreb School of Economics and Management, stated that current issues such as climate change and artificial intelligence governance have transcended national borders and require international collaboration. The withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement and its demonstrated isolationist tendencies have weakened its position and role in global governance, which in turn has created more opportunities and space for EU-China cooperation. The Zagreb School of Economics and Management will focus on promoting higher education exchanges between Europe and China, creating more opportunities for the Croatian people to understand China, and providing support for the long-term deepening of Croatia-China and even EU-China cooperation.
Over 100 participants attended the conference, including government officials, heads of think tanks, experts, scholars, industry representatives, and media journalists from countries such as China, Croatia, Poland, Hungary, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Germany, Italy, and Luxembourg.
Delegates engaged in discussions on topics including practical cooperation between China and CEE countries, think tank exchanges, business cooperation, the situation in CEE countries, and China-EU relations. They systematically summarized the developmental experience of China-CEEC Cooperation, deeply analyzed the new characteristics of alignment in various fields in the new era, and proposed recommendations for further innovating cooperation mechanisms and models and expanding the scope of practical cooperation.
The conference was organized by the Institute of European Studies at CASS, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Croatia, and the Zagreb School of Economics and Management (ZSEM). It was co-organized by the China-CEE Institute and the China-CEEC Think Tanks Exchange and Cooperation Network.
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