President Xi Jinping chaired the China-Central and Eastern European Countries Leaders Summit by video from Beijing on February 9. The summit was attended by heads of state and government and high-level representatives of CEEC, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech, Montenegro, Poland, Serbia, Albania, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania. Xi delivered a keynote speech titled "Keeping up the Momentum and Working Together for A New Chapter in China-CEEC Cooperation”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs the China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Summit and delivers a keynote speech via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

凝心聚力，继往开来 携手共谱合作新篇章——在中国—中东欧国家领导人峰会上的主旨讲话
Keeping up the Momentum and Working Together for A New Chapter in China-CEEC Cooperation

（2021年2月9日，北京）
中华人民共和国主席　习近平
Keynote Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping
President of the People's Republic of China
At the China-CEEC Summit
Beijing, 9 February 2021

尊敬的各位同事，
女士们，先生们，朋友们：
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,Friends,

欢迎大家出席中国—中东欧国家领导人峰会。今天，我们在各国全力抗击新冠肺炎疫情的特殊背景下举行峰会，表明了各国通力合作、共克时艰、共谋发展的决心。
Welcome to the China-CEEC Summit. This Summit takes place as countries are going all out to fight COVID-19. To meet at such an unusual moment shows our resolve to stand together in face of difficulties and pursue shared development through cooperation.

中国—中东欧国家合作已经走过9年历程。9年前，本着合作共赢、共谋发展的初心，怀着共同开创美好未来的决心，我们顺应时代潮流和发展大势，联合倡议建立中国—中东欧国家合作机制，开启中国同中东欧国家关系发展新阶段。
It has been nine years since cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) started. Nine years ago, with a commitment to win-win cooperation and common development and a resolve to create a better future together, we jointly initiated this cooperation mechanism between China and CEE countries, a decision that responded to the call of our times and the trend of development. China-CEEC relations have thus entered a new stage.

9年来，中国—中东欧国家合作经历了时间和国际形势复杂变化的考验，形成了符合自身特点并为各方所接受的合作原则。
Nine years on, China-CEEC cooperation has stood the test of time and intricate changes in the international landscape. It has developed some principles that are reflective of its distinctive features and accepted by all parties.

一是有事大家商量着办。我们坚持相互尊重，合作不附带政治条件，坚持大小国家一律平等，共商共建共享。我们本着“17+1大于18”的信念，建立起以领导人会晤机制为引领、涵盖20多个领域的立体合作架构，让每个国家参与其中。我们照顾彼此关切，从各国实际出发制定规划、确定项目，鼓励各国结合自身禀赋在合作中找到定位、发挥优势。
First, making decisions through consultation. China-CEEC cooperation is based on mutual respect and has no political strings attached. All countries involved, regardless of their size, are equal partners in a cooperation mechanism featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. Guided by the conviction that "17 plus 1 could make more than 18", we have set up a multi-dimensional cooperation framework led by the leaders' summit and covering 20-plus sectors to ensure the participation of all CEE countries. Mindful of each other's concerns, we have drawn up plans and decided on projects based on the national reality of each country, and encouraged all countries to find the best way to leverage their respective strengths in cooperation.

二是让合作方都有收获。我们聚焦务实合作，实现了助力各自发展、增进民生福祉的目标。我们推动合作均衡发展，坚持经济和人文结合、贸易和投资并重，让成果惠及不同国家、不同人群。同9年前相比，中国同中东欧国家贸易额增长近85%，其中中方进口增幅高出出口增幅22个百分点，双向旅游交流人数增长近4倍。中欧班列已经覆盖大部分中东欧国家，累计开行3万多列。希腊比雷埃夫斯港、塞尔维亚斯梅戴雷沃钢厂、克罗地亚佩列沙茨跨海大桥等一大批合作项目成果喜人。
Second, delivering benefits to all cooperation partners. With its focus on real results,China-CEEC cooperation has served the purpose of supporting our respective development and bettering the lives of our people. To make our cooperation more balanced, we have pursued both economic cooperation and cultural exchanges, placed equal importance on trade and investment, and made sure that the fruits of cooperation are shared by all countries and communities. Today, trade between China and CEE countries is nearly 85 percent bigger than nine years ago, and growth in China's import from CEE countries is 22 percentage points higher than that of export.The number of mutual tourist visits has grown nearly five times. The China-Europe Railway Express has reached most of the CEE countries, running more than 30,000 freight services so far. Impressive progress has been made in a number of cooperation projects, including the Port of Piraeus in Greece, the Smederevo Steel Plant in Serbia, and the Peljesac Bridge in Croatia.

三是在开放包容中共同发展。中国和中东欧国家都坚信开放创造机遇、包容成就多元，这也是中国—中东欧国家合作保持旺盛生命力的根本所在。我们互学互鉴、取长补短，坚持以协商合作弥合差异、解决分歧。我们遵循普遍接受的国际规则，符合市场原则，尊重欧盟标准，欢迎其他国家和国际组织积极参与，实现共赢、多赢。
Third, pursuing common development through openness and inclusiveness. China and CEE countries share the conviction that openness brings opportunities and inclusiveness ensures diversity. This is the key to the sustained vibrancy of China-CEEC cooperation.We have drawn on each other's strengths through mutual learning, and narrowed differences and resolved disagreements through consultation and cooperation. We have followed widely-accepted international rules, conformed to market principles, and respected EU standards in our cooperation. We also welcome the participation of other countries and international organizations in our cooperation to achieve win-win results.

四是通过创新不断成长。我们开拓思路、先试先行，率先探索跨区域合作同共建“一带一路”倡议对接，率先实现“一带一路”合作协议在地区全覆盖。我们着眼中东欧国家需求和区位优势，推动匈塞铁路等重大项目取得积极成果。
Fourth, achieving bigger growth through innovation. Acting in an innovative and pioneering spirit, we have taken steps early on to explore the possibility of aligning cross-regional cooperation with Belt and Road cooperation, making Central and Eastern Europe the first region where all countries have signed agreements on Belt and Road cooperation. In light of the needs and unique geographical locations of CEE countries, we have worked hard for good progress in the Budapest-Belgrade Railway and other major cooperation projects.

各位同事！
Colleagues,

我们身处一个充满挑战的时代。世纪疫情和百年变局交织，带来深远影响。前所未有的挑战，需要各国以前所未有的团结协作共同应对。
We are living in challenging times. Changes unseen in a century, coupled with the global COVID-19 pandemic, have had a far-reaching impact. In the face of such unprecedented challenges, countries must come together and respond with solidarity and coordination like never before.

去年，中欧关系在疫情中逆势前行，双方如期完成中欧投资协定谈判，签署中欧地理标志协定，打造中欧绿色合作、数字合作伙伴关系，坚定维护多边主义，共同应对全球性挑战。中国—中东欧国家合作是中欧关系的重要组成部分，中欧关系积极发展也为中国—中东欧国家合作带来了新机遇。
In 2020, overall China-EU relations made new progress despite the challenges caused by the pandemic. The two sides concluded on schedule negotiations on the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, signed an agreement on geographical indications, and launched partnerships for green and digital cooperation. The two sides also stood firm for multilateralism and took on global challenges together. China-CEEC cooperation is part and parcel of China-EU relations, whose good progress means new opportunities for China-CEEC cooperation.

各位同事！
Colleagues,

中国—中东欧国家合作是具有重要影响力的跨区域合作平台。新形势下，中国—中东欧国家合作如何发展？我愿提出4点建议。
China-CEEC cooperation is a cross-regional cooperation platform with important influence. Under the new circumstances, what could we do to take our cooperation forward? I want to share with you the following four thoughts of suggestion.

第一，直面疫情挑战，坚定共克时艰的合作信心。抗击新冠肺炎疫情是当前最紧迫的任务。中国愿同中东欧国家团结协作、合力应对。双方可以加强联防联控和疫情防治经验交流，探讨开展传统医药合作，提升卫生医疗合作水平，推动构建人类卫生健康共同体。中国愿继续在力所能及范围内向有关国家提供疫苗，为推动疫苗作为全球公共产品、促进疫苗在全球公平分配和使用作出贡献。中国愿同中东欧国家开展疫苗合作。目前，塞尔维亚已从中国企业获取100万剂疫苗，匈牙利正同中国疫苗企业合作。如果中东欧其他国家有疫苗合作需求，中方愿积极考虑。
First, we need to tackle COVID-19 head on and boost confidence in cooperation to tide over the tough times. Fighting the pandemic is currently the most pressing task for us. To complete this task, China will work with CEE countries through solidarity, coordination and cooperation. Our two sides could enhance joint response and experience sharing on prevention and treatment, explore cooperation on traditional medicine, and scale up public health and medical cooperation. These efforts will contribute to a global community of health for all. China will continue to provide vaccines to countries in need to the best of its capability, and do what it can to make vaccines a global public good and promote their equitable distribution and application around the world. China stands ready for vaccine cooperation with CEE countries. So far, Serbia has received one million doses of vaccines from a Chinese company, and there is ongoing cooperation between Hungary and Chinese vaccine companies. China will actively consider such cooperation with other CEE countries if there is the need.

我们要坚持开放合作，促进贸易和投资自由化便利化，推动构建开放型世界经济，推动世界经济早日走出危机阴影。现阶段，我们要统筹好疫情防控和经济社会发展，稳妥有序恢复人员往来、推动复工复产，维护产业链供应链稳定，为共同抗疫和恢复经济提供保障。
We need to stay committed to open cooperation. We need to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, work to build an open world economy and move the world economy out of the shadow of crisis as early as possible. The priority for the time being is to coordinate COVID response and economic and social development, resume travels and economic activities in a prudent and orderly manner, and keep industrial and supply chains stable, so as to bolster our efforts to contain the coronavirus and revive the economy.

第二，聚焦互联互通，畅通联动发展的合作动脉。我们要不断完善融通格局，为未来更高水平的联动发展打好基础。要携手高质量共建“一带一路”，加快推进匈塞铁路等大项目建设，继续支持中欧班列发展，充分挖掘合作潜力。
Second, we need to focus on connectivity and develop smooth avenues of cooperation for interconnected development. We need to keep improving connectivity as a solid foundation for interconnected development at a higher level. We could pursue high?quality Belt and Road cooperation, speed up such major projects as the Budapest?Belgrade Railway, and continue to support the development of the China-Europe Railway Express to unlock the full potential of our cooperation.

我们要深化海关贸易安全和通关便利化合作。中方将推动建设中国—中东欧国家海关信息中心、中欧陆海快线沿线国家通关协调咨询点，愿探索同中东欧国家海关开展“智慧海关、智能边境、智享联通”合作试点。
It is also important that we deepen customs cooperation to ensure trade security and faster clearance. China will work toward the establishment of a China-CEEC customs information center and a focal point for customs clearance coordination for countries along the China-Europe Land-Sea Express Line. We could also explore cooperation on a pilot basis under the "Smart Customs, Smart Borders and Smart Connectivity" Initiative.

第三，坚持务实导向，扩大互惠互利的合作成果。我们愿同中东欧国家一道，推动中欧务实合作成果在中东欧尽早落地，就促进贸易和投资互利合作作出更多努力，推动贸易平衡、可持续发展。中方计划今后5年从中东欧国家进口累计价值1700亿美元以上的商品，愿积极利用中国国际进口博览会、中国—中东欧国家博览会等平台扩大自中东欧国家进口商品，通过建立中国—中东欧国家卫生和植物卫生工作组机制、检验检疫联络咨询点，合并相近产品风险等级评估等措施，优化中东欧国家农食产品输华准入评估程序、加快准入进程。我们要加强地方经贸合作，继续推进宁波、沧州等地中国—中东欧国家经贸合作示范区、产业园建设。
Third, we need to aim for concrete results and increase cooperation outcomes that benefit both sides. China will work with CEE countries to help the region share in the benefits of China-EU cooperation as early as possible. More should be done toward mutually-beneficial trade and investment cooperation to promote balanced and sustainable trade growth. China intends to import, in the coming five years, more than 170 billion US dollars of goods from CEE countries. Platforms like the China International Import Expo and the China-CEEC Expo would be better leveraged for China to import more goods from CEE countries; and measures will be taken to set up a China-CEEC sanitary and phytosanitary working group mechanism and a focal point for inspection and quarantine affairs and to merge risk assessment procedures on a category basis, in order to refine the assessment process for agri-food products from CEE countries and speed up their entry into China. We could also strengthen business cooperation at the sub-national level and continue to develop demonstration zones and industrial parks for China-CEEC business cooperation in Chinese cities like Ningbo and Cangzhou.

我们要深化农业合作，争取实现未来5年中国从中东欧国家的农产品进口额翻番，双方农业贸易额增长50%。我们倡议在中东欧国家合作建设农产品批发市场，实施青年农业人才交流计划。
We need to deepen agricultural cooperation in a bid to double CEE countries' agricultural exports to China and raise two-way agricultural trade by 50 percent over the next five years. We propose setting up a farm produce wholesale market in the CEE region and introducing an exchange program for young agricultural professionals.

我们要加强文化、教育、旅游、体育、媒体、出版、智库、青年、地方等领域交流合作。中方愿以北京2022年冬奥会、冬残奥会为契机同中东欧国家深化体育合作。我们将在年内举行新一届教育政策对话和高校联合会会议，支持复旦大学在匈牙利开设校区。我们要加强特色旅游产品联合开发和旅游人才联合培养。我们要落实好第五次中国—中东欧国家地方领导人会议共识，推动地方合作取得更多成果。
We need to enhance exchange and cooperation in culture, education, tourism, sports, media and press, and among think tanks, young people and sub-national entities. The Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are a good opportunity for strengthening China-CEEC cooperation in the sports field. We will hold a new round of Education Policy Dialogue and Higher Education Institutes Consortium meetings this year, and support establishing a university in Hungary by Fudan University. The two sides could jointly develop more tourism products with local features and co-organize training of tourism professionals. The outcomes of the fifth China-CEEC Local Leaders' Meeting should be fully implemented to produce more fruits from sub-national cooperation.

第四，着眼绿色发展，打造面向未来的合作动能。我们要坚持“绿色共识”，坚定不移推进应对气候变化国际合作，共同落实应对气候变化《巴黎协定》，为今年联合国第二十六次气候变化缔约方大会和第十五次《生物多样性公约》缔约方大会成功举办作出贡献。我们要推动“绿色发展”，以2021年“中国—中东欧国家合作绿色发展和环境保护年”为契机，深化绿色经济、清洁能源等领域交流合作。
Fourth, we need to focus on green development and forge drivers of future-oriented cooperation. On the basis of our "green consensus", we need to steadfastly advance international cooperation on climate change, jointly implement the Paris Agreement and contribute to the success of COP26 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, both to be held this year. To enhance green development, we may take the China-CEEC Year of Green Development and Environmental Protection as an opportunity to deepen exchange and cooperation in green economy, clean energy and other related areas.

我们要坚持科技创新。中方倡议成立中国—中东欧国家创新合作研究中心、举办中国—中东欧国家青年科技人才论坛，将出版发布《2020中国—中东欧国家科技创新记分卡》。我们要抓住新业态，拓展在数字经济、电子商务、健康产业等领域合作。中方将推动建立中国—中东欧国家电子商务合作对话机制和中国—中东欧国家公众健康产业联盟。
We need to step up cooperation in science, technology and innovation (STI). China proposes setting up a China-CEEC STI Research Center and holding a China-CEEC Forum for Young S&T Talents, and will publish the China-CEEC STI Scorecard 2020. We need to capitalize on various emerging business forms to widen our cooperation on the digital economy, e-commerce and the health sector. China supports setting up a China?CEEC dialogue mechanism on e-commerce cooperation and a China-CEEC alliance in the public health industry.

各位同事！
Colleagues,

今年起，中国开始实施经济社会发展第十四个五年规划、开启全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程。进入新发展阶段，中国将加快构建以国内大循环为主体、国内国际双循环相互促进的新发展格局。中国14亿人口、4亿以上中等收入群体构成的超大规模市场和内需潜力将充分释放，为世界创造更多需求、带来更多机遇。中国将继续扩大开放，着力推动规则、规制、管理、标准等制度型开放，持续营造市场化、法治化、国际化营商环境。中国将更加积极参与双边、多边和区域合作，同各国实现更高水平的互利共赢。中国持续发展和开放将为世界经济复苏和增长注入强大动能，也将为中国—中东欧国家合作开辟更广阔空间。
This year will be the beginning of China's 14th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development, and the start of the country's new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country. Entering a new stage of development, China will quicken its pace in fostering a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. This will unlock the full potential of China's vast market and domestic demand generated by the 1.4 billion population, including the over 400 million Chinese in the middle-income group. It will thus boost global demand and create more opportunities for the rest of the world. China will continue to open its door wider, with a focus on institutional opening-up that covers rules, regulations, management and standards. We will continue our efforts to foster a business environment that is based on market principles, governed by law and up to international standards. We will take a more active part in bilateral, multilateral and regional cooperation that delivers higher levels of mutual benefit for all. China's continued development and opening-up will inject powerful impetus into global economic recovery and growth, and broaden the horizons for China-CEEC cooperation.

各位同事！
Colleagues,

中东欧国家谚语说，“好的建议比黄金更有价值”。希望大家通过今天的会议集思广益、建言献策，为新形势下中国—中东欧国家合作凝聚新共识、绘制新蓝图，共同推动中国—中东欧国家合作走得更稳、更实、更远。
As a saying in Central and Eastern Europe goes, "Good advice is better than gold."I hope our discussion today will build on our consensus and draw a new blueprint for China-CEEC cooperation under the new circumstances. With our shared commitment and efforts, we will surely achieve more solid, substantive and enduring progress in the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries.