Preface
China has been developed extensive bilateral relationships with Europe. At the EU level, besides the annual China-EU Summit, there are three pillars which support the high-level exchanges, namely Economic and Trade Dialogue, Strategic and
Security Dialogue as well as People to People Exchange. There are also more than 60 sector dialogues at the working level between China and EU. At the country level, China has been developed strong and close relationship with major states in Europe, especially with Germany, France and UK. Similar to the China-EU framework, Chinese premier meets his German, French and British counter partner almost every year, and the three-pillar structure is also applicable to China-Germany, China-France and China-UK relationship, nevertheless the sector cooperation.
Central and Eastern Europe was a traditional region for Chinese diplomacy. Some of the countries in CEE were the first ones which had established diplomatic relations with the People Republic of China. China will celebrate 70 years diplomatic relationship with these countries in 2019. During the transition process in 1990s, “Back to Europe” was the priority for CEE countries, and China went to global at the
same time, the tires between China and CEE countries had been loosened. After the financial crisis, China and CEE countries “rediscovered” each other, and 16+1 Cooperation was born. The first Economic and Trade Forum between China and CEE countries was held in Budapest in 2011, which had been received strong support from all the stakeholders. In the next year the first 16+1 summit had been held in Warsaw.