1. Narration of China-EU Cooperation in China-CEEC Cooperation Documents

Guidelines published by the successive China-CEEC Summits (except the one in Warsaw in 2012) have references to the relations between China-CEEC Cooperation and China-EU relations from different angles. China-CEEC Cooperation is usually defined as part and parcel of China-EU relations and a useful supplement to the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

At the second China-CEEC Summit held in Bucharest, Romania, in 2013, the first guidelines for China-CEEC Cooperation was published, ^[1] where it was stressed that China-CEEC Cooperation is in concord with China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. ^[2] Premier Li Keqiang pointed out at the Summit that China-EU cooperation is a fundamental element of the Bucharest Guidelines, and that China-CEEC Cooperation is part and parcel of both China-Europe cooperation and China-EU cooperation. ^[3] The Belgrade Guidelines for China-CEEC Cooperation published at the third China-CEEC Summit pointed out that China-CEEC Cooperation is in line with China-EU relations and reaffirmed the commitment to deepening the China-EU partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization based on the principles of equality, respect and trust, thus contributing as appropriate to the implementation of the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation.^[4] At the fourth China-CEEC Summit, the Medium-Term Agenda for China-CEEC Cooperation was published, where it was believed that China-CEEC Cooperation will further advance the relations between China and CEECs and promote all-round and balanced development of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.^[5] The Riga Guidelines for China-CEEC Cooperation published at the fifth China-CEEC Summit pointed out that a synergy should be developed between China-CEEC Cooperation and China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership through the China-EU Connectivity Platform and other channels. ^[6] The Budapest Guidelines for China-CEEC Cooperation published at the sixth China-CEEC Summit reiterated that China-CEEC Cooperation is part and parcel of the overall China-EU cooperation, and the Chinese side reaffirms the high importance it attaches to China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, its support for European integration and commitment to the China-EU partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization, and it is happy to see a Europe enjoying solidarity, stability and prosperity.^[7] At the seventh Summit, the participants stressed that China-CEEC Cooperation is an important part of and a useful supplement to China-EU relations and expressed their readiness to work together, through the China-CEEC format and in line with their respective competences and existing commitments to ensuring China-EU relations continue to develop in a balanced way. It was also emphasized that EU member states and candidate countries within the 16 CEECs support the China-EU partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization and China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation.^[8] At the eighth Summit, the participants underlined that China-CEEC Cooperation constitutes an important part of China-EU relations and complements China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation. They reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their partnership for peace, growth, reform and civilization.^[9]

The narratives of China-EU relations in the successive Guidelines for China-CEEC Cooperation are completely in line with China’s EU policy paper. First, it was clearly stated in China’s Policy Paper on the European Union released in 2018 that China-CEEC Cooperation is a platform for win-win, open and transparent cross-regional cooperation based on common interests and needs of China and CEECs and welcomes the support and constructive participation of the EU and other parties. ^[10] This proves once again that China welcomes the involvement of the EU, other European countries and organizations. Second, the content and agenda of China-CEEC Cooperation enriches and complements those of China-EU cooperation, but are somewhat different in a way that the China-CEEC Guidelines have never stressed the political dimension of the cooperation. Rather, the focus has been on economic cooperation, trade, investment, connectivity, people-to-people exchanges. With practical cooperation as its focus, China-CEEC Cooperation has no intention to undermine China-EU political relations and the last thing it wants is to bypass the EU and start a regional mechanism on political cooperation with CEECs. Third, a number of China-CEEC Summits invited representatives of the EU to attend as observers and this shows that the principle of openness and transparency China-CEEC Cooperation is strictly followed and EU is always respected as an irreplaceable player in the region.