On November 27, 2017, the 6th Summit of China and Central and Eastern European Countries (hereinafter referred to as "CEECs") was held in Budapest, Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Chairman of the Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov of the Republic of Bulgaria, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic of Republic of Croatia, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka of the Czech Republic, Prime Minister Jyri Ratas of the Republic of Estonia, Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis of the Republic of Latvia, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis of the Republic of Lithuania, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev of the Republic of Macedonia, Prime Minister Dusko Markovic of Montenegro, Prime Minister Beata Szydlo of the Republic of Poland, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic of the Republic of Serbia, Prime Minister Robert Fico of the Slovak Republic, Prime Minister Miro Cerar of the Republic of Slovenia, Deputy Prime Minister Senida Mesi of the Republic of Albania and Deputy Prime Minister Paul Stanescu of Romania attended the meeting. They expressed appreciation and gratitude to Hungary for the efforts it had made as the host country to ensure the success of the meeting. Representatives of Austria, Belarus, Greece, Switzerland, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the European Union were present as observers.
The Participants, in consideration of the fifth anniversary of the establishment of China–CEEC cooperation, from the 1st Summit of the Heads of Government in Warsaw in 2012, throughout the 2013 Summit in Bucharest, the 2014 Summit in Belgrade, the 2015 Summit in Suzhou and the 2016 Summit in Riga to the Budapest Summit in 2017,wish to review and highlight the significant achievements and fruitful results that have been made during the course of the past five years, and the implementation of the Medium Term Agenda that was accepted by the Participants at the Suzhou Summit in 2015,and agree that 16+1 Cooperation has grown over the last five years in the field of politics, economy and trade, transport and logistics, connectivity, people-to-people exchanges as well as other areas.
The Participants underline that against the backdrop of instabilities and uncertainties of the world, the Participants should firmly safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, stand for multilateralism, and strive for openness in global economy with WTO rules at its core. We reiterate the importance of expanding economic growth, trade and investment based on fairness, market rules and universally recognized international norms. China and CEECs stand ready to work actively on that.
The Participants maintain that 16+1 cooperation constitutes an important part of the cooperation between China and Europe as a whole. The Chinese side reaffirms that it attaches great importance to China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, that it supports the road of integration chosen by EU members in an independent manner, that it wishes to see a united, stable and prosperous Europe, and that it will promote China-EU partnership of peace, growth, reform and civilization. EU member states and candidate countries within the 16 CEECs are committed to the advancement of EU-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and EU-China Agenda 2020 , including actively promoting practical cooperation in the framework of the EU-China Connectivity Platform, in the Investment Plan for Europe and supporting the conclusion of an ambitious and comprehensive Agreement on Investment between the EU and China.
The Participants, in recognition of the beneficial conditions arising from enhanced connectivity between Europe and Asia and the important opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative in this regard, make positive comments on the outcome of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. The Participants emphasize their willingness to continue to cooperate within the Belt and Road initiative of China through consultations and shared benefits by making use of 16+1 cooperation, try to further develop synergies between the Belt and Road initiative and important initiatives such as the Investment Plan for Europe, as well as development plans of respective countries.
The Participants, recognizing the gradual expansion of the scope of cooperation and the achievements of their efforts, reaffirm their commitment to enhance coordination, explore innovative ways of cooperation and continue to build a lasting partnership in the 16+1 framework following principles of openness, inclusiveness and mutual benefit, thus elevating their ties to a higher level. To this end, the Participants formulate the Budapest Guidelines for Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries with 'Deepening economic, trade and financial cooperation for win-win development' as the theme, outlining the future directions for 16+1 cooperation.
The Participants reiterate that they will cooperate on the basis of willingness, fairness, transparency, inclusiveness, reciprocity and mutual benefit within the applicable norms of international law, and in accordance with the laws, regulations and respective competences of each other and EU standards and policies for EU member states and candidate countries.
1. The Participants support Bulgaria in hosting the 7th China-CEEC Summit.
2. Cooperation Plan and Coordination
(1) The Participants positively assess the important role of the Medium Term Agenda for Cooperation between China and CEECs for 16+1 Cooperation and stand ready to continually implement the Medium Term Agenda by acting on respective advantages and needs. The study of Cooperation Agenda for 2021-2025 will be initiated in due course.
(2) The Participants are welcome to take an active part in building Belt and Road in various forms by taking into consideration the actual national conditions of each country.
(3) China will invite National Coordinators of the 16 CEECs to visit China and attend 16+1 National Coordinators' Meeting during the first half of 2018. Bulgaria will hold 16+1 National Coordinators' Meeting during the second half of the year.
(4) The Participants support the Secretariat for Cooperation between China and CEECs in better playing a coordinating role together with relevant departments of China and CEECs so as to further improve the system and structure of cooperation. The Secretariat for Cooperation between China and CEECs and CEEC Embassies in China will continue to hold meetings.
(5) The Participants make positive comments on efforts made by