V Summary

Within the framework of“16+1 Cooperation”, the bilateral cooperation is the foundation and“16+1 Cooperation” is the platform. Both dimensions are mutual complementary and interdependent. On one hand, better bilateral country to country's cooperation is the basic guarantee of the further development of“16+1 Cooperation”. Only the bilateral relation between China and each Central Eastern European Country has the good foundation, could the“16+1 Cooperation” make further progress. On the other, the gradually developing“16+1 Cooperation” will be the multilateral platform for the better cooperation among China and 16 CEECs. At this platform, 17 countries can consult with each other equally, increase mutual knowledge, promote the synergy one another and seek more cooperation opportunities.“16+1 Cooperation”, starting from scratch and from inauguration to development, not only creates the opportunities for 16 CEECs but also offers more chances to dialogue and exchange with China. The leaders from 17 countries can exchange views to design the further cooperation.

At the bilateral level, a lot of progress has been made in the past five years. The amount of China's strategic partnership in Central and Eastern Europe has increased and the cooperation level has been upgraded. China's cooperation with the subregional areas from CEEC has also developed very rapidly. The local cooperation became the new gripper and highlight of the“16+1 Cooperation”. China-CEEC cooperation makes striking achievements in the area of local cooperation of which the China Express and Local Leaders' meeting are the special driving forces. At the“16+1 Cooperation” platform, the CEECs show their specific features and potentials, and play important roles in some specific area. Let's just take the example of Hungary and Serbia, a lot of achievements and“first” have been made. At the bilateral level, China and CEEC deeply tapped the cooperation potential and push to build a series of professional cooperation platform.

Looking for the future, the bilateral cooperation under the framework of the“16+1 Cooperation” still has huge potential and opportunities and will be one of the major points of growth.