Cooperation Between China and Central and Eastern European Countries

The mechanism for cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, commonly known as "16+1," has been established to facilitate collaboration between China and the 16 CEE countries on issues of common concern. The 17 countries agree to respect each other's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, broaden understanding of each other's approach to development, and work to realize goals under the "16+1" framework in line with their own specific needs and priorities and based on equality, consultation, mutual complementarity, and cooperation for mutual benefit.

An innovative framework for sub- regional cooperation, established in 2012, the "16+1" is an important component of the entire cooperation between China and Europe. It opens new avenues for increased engagement between traditionally friendly countries. It is a new platform that focuses on South-South cooperation with the feature of South-North cooperation.

Thanks to the joint endeavors of the participants, the "16+1" has grown into an omni-dimensional, wide-ranging, and multi- channel framework that is harvesting fruitful results. A more effective alignment between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and the "16+1" framework will bring benefits to both China and the CEE countries.

中國—中東歐國家合作

中國—中東歐國家合作簡稱“16＋1合作”，是中國與中東歐16國之間建立的合作機制，啟動于2012年。在該機制框架下，17國將相互尊重各自主權獨立和領土完整，加深對各自發展道路的理解，結合自身特點、需求和優先方向，本著平等協商、優勢互補、合作共贏的原則，積極落實框架目標。

“16+1合作”是中歐整體合作的重要組成部分，這一創新性的次區域合作機制，開辟了中國同傳統友好國家關系發展的新途徑，創新了中國、歐洲關系實踐，搭建了具有南北合作特點的南南合作新平臺。近7年來，在雙方的共同努力下，“16+1合作”機制不斷發展壯大，形成了全方位、寬領域、多層次的格局，已步入成熟期和早期收獲期。實現“一帶一路”倡議與“16+1合作”機制的有效對接，將開拓中國與中東歐國家的合作共贏之路。