Trade (and) Cooperation Within the Chinese Led Multilateral Framework 16+1

Abstract

December 2019 saw the 40th anniversary since the beginning of Chinese reforms and opening up initiated by the Deng Xiaoping in 1978 and continued by next generations of Chinese Communist Party’s leaders. This has led to the great changes both in and between economic and political relations of China. Increasing economic power impacted China’s foreign relations and diplomatic practices. Regional and multilateral cooperation turned out to mark the new China in international affairs. The first part of the paper presents Chinese economic opening and development of multilateralism and regionalism in Chinese foreign policy and its impact on the relations with Central and Eastern European countries. Second part of paper is focused on institutional development of China + 16 Central and Eastern Countries mechanism. Particular attention will be paid on institutionalization of the sub-mechanism defined in guidelines for promoting mutual trade. The third part of the paper analyses the nature, scope and scale of Sino-Central and Eastern European trade.