After the "16 + 1": Global Partnership Center between China and Eastern Europe

The Global Partnership Center will teach Chinese investors how to work in the EU and European companies in China, Prime Ministers Boyko Borissov and Li Keqiang explained.

Li Keqiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China: “I want to ask Prime Minister Borisov to take the lead and build and set up such a center and China will be the sponsor”.

Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria: “Just like the colleagues from the Visegrad Four help each other, we on the Balkans, with the common business and economic projects can increase the incomes of the people and become competitive to the other European countries”.

By opening a plaque for good cooperation between Bulgaria and China in agriculture, the two Prime Ministers agreed that China would buy more than 10 million tonnes of Bulgarian dried tobacco leaves every year.

Li Keqiang: “Despite the huge distance between our countries, we have agreed to import up to 10 million tonnes of Bulgarian tobacco into the Chinese market. We will be happy to meet the needs of Bulgaria shared by our good friend Boyko Borissov”.

Borisov and Keqiang reassured the EU that "16 + 1" forums do not aim at dividing the EU, but on the contrary, to strengthen Europe and global multilateral trade.

Li Keqiang: “We see a united and stable Europe as our partner in a multipolar world. In this world, all of us "sit in one chair," but in order for this chair to be stable, it should have at least 3-4 legs, not just two”.

Boyko Borissov: “I appreciate what the Premier of the State Council of China has said. With these words, he gives very clear assurance that we can use the possibilitiess that China has as a truly equal partner, and at a time when the world is shaked by commercial wars”.

China opens its market even further and reduces the import duties for European goods. From € 30 billion of Chinese investment in Europe in 2017, just under 2% are in the Eastern countries.

Along the specific agreements with Bulgaria, China has signed 18 other agreements with other Central and Eastern European countries for the construction of major infrastructure projects and cooperation in agriculture and tourism. These agreements, according to the Chinese Premier, prove that both Chinese interests and EU interests coincide.

The next host of the "16 + 1" forum will be Croatia.

The "16 + 1" meeting is also seen in the context of the enormous Chinese initiative "One Belt, One Road" to connect China and Europe in two corridors. According to experts, the Belt and Road initiative is the largest economic project in the new history with 68 participating countries and an initial capital of 40 billion dollars. 34 have already been invested in roads, ports and strategic infrastructure along the route of the ancient Silk Road.

Чуйте последните новини, където и да сте!
Последвайте ни във Facebook и Instagram
Следете и канала на БНТ в YouTube
Вече може да ни гледате и в TikTok
Намерете ни в Google News