The 16+1 Sofia Think Tanks Conference 'Advancing 16+1 Cooperation Platform – the Way Ahead'
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The 16+1 Sofia Think Tanks Conference 'Advancing 16+1 Cooperation Platform – the Way Ahead' co-organized by the Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and China Center for Contemporary World Studies of the International Department of CPC’s Central Committee by the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria and China-CEEC Think Tanks Network Sofia, Central Military Club 29th June 2018 1 The views and opinions expressed in this publication are solely those of the scholars, researchers and experts and do not reflect official positions of the countries on whose behalf they have participated in the conference Compiled by Dr. Valentin Katrandzhiev Translation Ivanka Angelova Ivan Katrandjiev Printed by Izdatelstvo VELES Ltd ISBN 978-619-7200-15-7 Изразените в публикацията становища и мнения са единствено на учените, изследователите и експертите и не отразяват официални позиции на държавите, от чието име същите участват във форума Съставител д-р Валентин Катранджиев Превод Иванка Ангелова Иван Катранджиев Печат „Издателство ВЕЛЕС“ ООД ISBN 978-619-7200-15-7 2 Published with the support of Council for Economic and Diplomatic Relations (CEDR) CEDR is an association operating in private benefit within the meaning of the Bulgarian Non-Profit Legal Entities Act. The main objective of the association is to create an environment of peace, common interest and development between the different national and international institutions and organizations in line with the specific cultural, economic and political differences of each party. CEDR aims to achieve its goals by creating a platform for information and knowledge exchange, organizing and participating in conferences, roundtables, cooperation and supporting the activities and initiatives of its members and partners. Изданието се публикува с подкрепата на Съвета за икономически и дипломатически отношения (СИДО) СИДО е сдружение, упражняващо своята дейност в частна полза по смисъла на българския Закон за юридическите лица с нестопанска цел. Основната цел на сдружението е да създаде среда на мир, общи интересни и развитие между различните национални и международни институции и организации, съобразявайки се със специфичните културни, икономически и политически особености на всяка страна. СИДО постига своите цели, като създава платформа за обмен на информация и знания, организира и участва в конференции, кръгли маси, както и съдейства и подкрепя дейностите и инициативите на своите членове и партньори. 3 4 Contents Introduction / 7 Official Opening/ 14 First Panel Political Dimension of the 16+1 Cooperation Platform / 23 Second Panel Economic Dimension of the 16+1 Cooperation Platform / 63 Third Panel People-to-People Dimension of the 16+1 Cooperation Platform / 105 Fourth Panel Local Cooperation Dimension of the 16+1 Cooperation Platform / 115 5 6 INTRODUCTION On 29th June 2018 the Diplomatic Institute to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria (referred hereinafter as the Bulgaria Diplomatic Institute) in collaboration with the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the 16+1 China-CEEC Think Tanks Network and the Chinese Center for Contemporary World Studies organized one-day international think tanks conference ‘Advancing 16+1 Cooperation Platform - the Way Ahead’. The high-level scientific and expert driven event was held as part of the official calendar of events of the 7th Summit of Heads of Government of the 16+1 China- CEEC cooperation platform. The conference was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria. China-CEEC think tank forum in Sofia contributed to consolidating the community of scholars, researchers and policy experts from leading universities and think thinks from China and Central and Eastern Europe around the 16+1 Think Tanks Network. The forum served as an academic and intellectual platform for reviewing the results and outlining future prospects of the 16+1 mechanisms and dimensions of cooperation. It was utilized for legitimizing new innovative ideas within the 16+1 expert and academic fora. The Sofia think tank conference also offered frank and honest discussions over the limitations and challenges to the 16+1 initiative and suggested ways of overcoming them. The Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute constitutes a leading Bulgarian think tank providing specialized expertise to the Bulgarian Diplomatic Service on the issues to the 16+1 initiative and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The expertise is being generated via own in-depth research studies and through scientific and expert driven conferences organized by the Institute. In view of that, in Sept 2017, the BDI held an international conference on the potential of the Black Sea Region as a crossing point of the 16+1 and the BRI. Apart from an authoritative and large Chinese delegation comprising of leading Chinese universities, institutes and think tanks, the think tank conference was enriched by the participation of a solid group of well-established in their field of expertise scholars and researchers from 9 (out of 16) Central and Eastern European countries - Czech Republic, Hungary, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. In his opening address, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Bulgaria, Mr. Georg Georgiev pointed out high expectations for the 16+1 as a cooperation platform for boosting economic development of the Central and Eastern Europe countries through investments, trade and realization of various projects. The motto of the 16+1 Sofia Leaders’ Summit ‘Deepening Open and Pragmatic Cooperation for Inclusive Prosperity’ reiterated the notion that success of the 16+1 initiative depended on inclusiveness, pragmatism, accomplishment of practical and achievable results. 7 On her part, the Director of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute (BDI), Ms. Mihaylova emphasized the BDI’s active commitment to the activities of the 16+1 China-CEEC Think Tanks Network. She also thanked the Chinese Embassy to Bulgaria and personally, the Chinese Ambassador H.E. Mr. Zhang Haizhou for assisting the BDI in deepening and expanding the network of contacts with the Chinese think tanks. Key note speeches at the opening session were delivered by Director- General of the Institute for European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and the Secretary of the China-CEEC Think Tanks Network, Prof. D. Huang Ping and by the Deputy Director-General of the China Center for Contemporary World Studies (CCCWS), Dr. Wang Liyong. In view of Prof. Huang Ping, the cooperative nature of the 16+1 derived from joint synchronization of rules, implementation of projects in particular fields, and finally sharing of cooperation results. He also emphasized the growing role of the 16+1 Think Tanks Network as an international collaborative research network (already encompassing more than hundred members). The scientific and think tank cooperation among the seventeen partner countries rested on joint initiation of research projects, co-organization of relevant think tank conferences and symposiums and finally joint publication of research outcomes. On his part, CCCWS’ Deputy-Director Dr. Wang Liyong presented the 16+1 cooperation platform as one centered not on zero-sum but win-win relationship. In the new of period domestic reforms China had been committed to expanding its market access to foreign investors and traders (incl. setting up a favorable foreign investment environment and enhancement of intellectual property rights protection). This would have a positive impact on China-CEEC relations. Dr. Wang Liyong proposed the inclusion of China-CEEC connectivity projects into the China-EU infrastructure cooperation framework (as a way of overcoming Brussels’ concerns over development of the 16+1). His Excellency Mr. Zhang Haizhou, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Bulgaria, expressed his country’s support for the Sofia 16+1 think tank conference and his appreciation of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute’s efforts for organizing the event. In his words, for a period of six years the 16+1 has developed into an influential cooperation platform. The economic, trade and investment relations of China with CEE countries has shown positive trend (e.g. trade exports of China to CEE countries with 16% increase and CEE countries exports to China with 24% increase). In reviewing the 16+1 sectoral cooperation, Ambassador Zhang Haizhou emphasized the growing popularity of the Bulgarian honey and rose oil products on the Chinese markets. He positively assessed the number of completed and ongoing projects in key fields under the 16+1 initiative: transport infrastructure (railway Budapest-Belgrade line construction; the highway in Montenegro-completed); energy (coal-fired powers station in Serbia already 8 producing electricity); agriculture (establishment of the first China-CEEC agricultural cooperation demonstration zone in Bulgaria). People-to-people dimension of the 16+1 platform has resulted in an increased number of direct flight connections and tourist related trips (seven cities across CEE countries have been directly connected to China by air and numbers of tourist exchanges has doubled to reach nearly one million people). The culture has served as a bridge of mutual understanding and learning (performances by Chinese artists have been very