CHINA-CEEC COOPERATION

While promoting the implementation of the consensus reached by both countries' top leaders on bilateral relations development, Zhang's visit to the Czech Republic has apparently given impetus to bilateral and multilateral cooperation between China and the CEEC.

Themed "Local Cooperation-Important Engine for China-CEEC Cooperation," the China-CEEC local leaders' meeting and China Investment Forum were held on Aug. 28-29.

China Investment Forum is a platform that is intended to support economic dialogue, investment flow and trade development between Europe and China. A Chinese delegation with senior officials from 15 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, took part in the international dialogues.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the second China-CEEC local leaders' meeting on Thursday, Zhang said cooperation between China and the CEEC is showing ever greater vitality and attractiveness.

The new cooperative platform of China-CEEC cooperation, also known as "16 plus 1 cooperation" since 2012, has been widely recognized by the international community and made great headway ever since.

Zhang said 2014, designated as the year of China-CEEC investment and trade promotion, has seen a China-CEEC trade promotion ministers meeting, a CEEC specialty products exhibition, and the establishment of a China-CEEC tourism cooperation coordinating center. The countries concerned are also planning to set up an association of local government heads.

Zhang said China and the 16 countries share mutual understanding and trust, high inter-complementarity among their economies and huge potential in meeting each other's need for cooperation.

He said during President Xi's recent visit to Europe, China and Europe reached consensus on developing partnership in the four areas of peace, growth, reform and civilization, which sets the direction for the expansion of cooperation between China and the CEEC.

Zhang said as a bridge connecting Asia and Europe, the countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) enjoy outstanding geographical advantages.

He called for making the best of the transport platform of China-Europe regular trains to promote construction of exclusive tariff zones and logistic distribution centers along the railway in a bid to develop a new Asia-Europe logistics artery.

The two sides could use the Mediterranean ports and the CEEC land transport network to open up new passages of combined transport by rail and sea between Asia and Europe, Zhang said.

For now, China-CEEC cooperation on large-scale projects such as construction of power stations and superhighway have made major progress.

The initial phase of 500 million U.S. dollars under the China-CEEC investment cooperation fund has started. The construction of the railway between Hungary and Serbia is going on steadily.

Advancing cooperation between China and the CEEC adapts to their common interests and the general direction of deepening the China-European Union (EU) comprehensive strategic partnership for mutual benefit, he noted.

Zhang expressed hope to strengthen cooperation in the areas of railway, highway, ports and energy, and to integrate China's growing consumption demand with the CEEC's will to expand exports by realizing the goal of boosting two-way trade volume to 100 billion U.S. dollars per year.