17+1 COOPERATION: AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT ON CHINA-CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES RELATIONS

Year 2021, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 49 - 67, 03.12.2021

Ahmet Eren Üncel Oğuz Güner

https://doi.org/10.51763/uid.996619

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Considering the steps taken by the Republic of China to lead the new world order with its 'go global' policy and the proximity of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries to the world's largest market economy, the 17+1 initiative, which aims to invigorate the Belt and Road Initiative with CEE, has enormous potential. China has increased its trade volumes and improved economic relations with CEE countries in recent years and has backed up its targets with political and societal projects. However, due to various reasons, such as China's late engagement in the region and its incomplete infrastructure project, doubts exist as to whether China will reach its long-term targets. This article aims to draw attention to the potential of China’s economic, political and societal relations with CEE in the context of the 17+1 initiative by reviewing primary and secondary sources. The study elaborates on the 17+1 initiative in a descriptive and explanatory way and concludes that growing economic relations with CEE countries will not be single indicators of China’s objectives but that China’s concrete projects and willpower will be determinants of its objectives.

Keywords

Central and Eastern Europe, European Union, China, Belt and Road Initiative, 17+1

17+1 İŞ BİRLİĞİ: ÇİN-ORTA VE DOĞU AVRUPA ÜLKELERİ İLİŞKİLERİ ÜZERİNE GENEL BİR DEĞERLENDİRME

Abstract

Çin Halk Cumhuriyeti'nin 'go global' politikası ile yeni dünya düzenine öncülük etme yolunda attığı adımlar ve Orta ve Doğu Avrupa (CEE) ülkelerinin dünyanın en büyük piyasa ekonomisine yakınlığını göz önüne alındığında, CEE ülkeleri ile Kuşak ve Yol Girişimini canlandırmak isteyen 17+1 platformu muazzam bir potansiyele sahiptir. Çin, son yıllarda Orta ve Doğu Avrupa ülkeleri ile ekonomik ilişkilerini geliştirmiş ve ticaret hacmini artırmıştır, siyasi ve toplumsal projelerle de hedeflerini desteklemiştir. Ancak Çin'in bölgeye girişinin gecikmesi ve yarım kalan altyapı projeleri gibi nedenlerle Çin'in uzun vadeli hedeflerine ulaşıp ulaşamayacağı konusunda şüpheler bulunmaktadır. Bu makale, birincil ve ikincil kaynakları inceleyerek Çin'in Orta ve Doğu Avrupa ile ekonomik, siyasi ve toplumsal ilişkilerinin potansiyeline 17+1 bağlamında dikkat çekmeyi amaçlamaktadır. 17+1 platformunu betimleyici ve açıklayıcı bir şekilde ele alan bu çalışma, Orta ve Doğu Avrupa ülkeleri ile artan ekonomik ilişkilerin Çin'in hedeflerine yönelik tek gösterge olmayacağı, Çin'in somut projelerinin ve iradesinin hedeflerinin belirleyicisi olacağı sonucuna varıyor.

Keywords

Merkez ve Doğu Avrupa, Avrupa Birliği, Çin, Kuşak ve Yol Girişimi, 17+1

References

• Enterprise Lithuania (2018). Lithuania-China Bilateral Trade Review. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from https://www.verslilietuva.lt/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018.09.11_China_EN.pdf
• Bachulska, A., Bērziņa-Čerenkova, U. A., & Pejić, N. (2020). We the people? The challenges of societal relations with China. Prague: Association for International Affairs.
• Bajerová, A. (2019). The Czech-Chinese Centre of Influence: How Chinese Embassy in Prague Secretly Funded Activities at the Top Czech University. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from https://chinaobservers.eu/the-czech-chinese-centre-of-influence-how-chinese-embassy-in-prague-secretly-funded-activities-at-the-top-czech-university/
• Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) (2015). Full Text: Vision and actions on jointly building Belt and Road. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from http://2017.beltandroadforum.org/english/n100/2017/0410/c22-45-2.html
• China Embassy (2017). Five-year Outcome List of Cooperation Between China and Central and Eastern European Countries. (22.07.2021), Retrieved from http://lt.china-embassy.org/eng/xwdt/t1514704.htm: http://lt.china-embassy.org/eng/xwdt/t1514704.htm
• China Observers in Central and Eastern Europe (CHOICE). (2020). Empty shell no more:China’s growing footprint in Central and Eastern Europe. Prague: ASSOCIATION FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (AMO).
• Council for European Studies (CES) (2018). 16+1: The EU’s Concerns of a Chinese ‘Trojan Horse’. (22.07.2021), Retrieved from EuropeNow: https://www.europenowjournal.org/2018/06/04/161-the-eus-concerns-of-a-chinese-trojan-horse/
• Dig Mandarin (2021). Confucius Institutes Around the World – 2021. (12.07.2021), Retrieved from https://www.digmandarin.com/confucius-institutes-around-the-world.html
• Procurement Register (2019). Eesti turismi turundamine Hiinas. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from https://riigihanked.riik.ee/rhr-web/#/procurement/1600788/general-info
• European Travel Commission (ETC). (2019). CHINESE TOURISTS FLOCK TO EUROPE. Brussels. https://etc-corporate.org/uploads/2019/03/Chinese_Tourists_Flock_to_Europe.pdf
• Gitter, D., & Fang, L. (2016). The Chinese Communist Party International Department: Overlooked yet Ever Present. (22.07.2021), Retrieved from The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2016/08/the-chinese-communist-party-international-department-overlooked-yet-ever-present/
• Global Times. (2020). China becomes EU’s largest trade partner. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1201350.shtml
• Godehardt, N. (2016). No end of history. A Chinese alternative concept of international order?”. Berlin: German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
• Hillman, J. E. (2018). The Rise of China-Europe Railways. CSIS. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from https://www.csis.org/analysis/rise-china-europe-railways
• Jakóbowski, J., Popławski, K., & Kaczmarski, M. (2018). The Silk Railroad: The EU-China rail connections: background, actors, interests. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-studies/2018-02-28/silk-railroad
• Karásková, I. (2019). How China Influences Media in Central and Eastern Europe. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2019/11/how-china-influences-media-in-central-and-eastern-europe/
• LEE, M. (2019). Pompeo warns Eastern Europe on Chinese and Russian meddling. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from AP News: https://apnews.com/article/d6639cadbde74b6d8bf2acc0e86c4550
• Lilei, S., & Yu, C. (2019). People to People Communication: A case study of Education Cooperation between China and CEECs from 2006-2016. Global Economic Observer, 299-310.
• Lintao, Y. (2016). Visits of opportunity: President Xi Jinping’s three-state trip injects impetus into the Belt and Road Initiative. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from Beijing Review: http://www.bjreview.com/Current_Issue/Editor_Choice/201606/t20160627_800060540.html
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China (FMPRC). (2012). Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/topics_665678/wjbispg_665714/t928567.shtml
• National Health Commission of the PRC (NHC). (2015). Prague Declaration on Health Cooperation and Development with Central and East Europe. (22.07.2021), Retrieved from National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China: http://en.nhc.gov.cn/2015-06/23/c_46968.htm
• NIELSEN, N. (2021). EU refuses to bail out Montenegro's China loan. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from euobserver: https://euobserver.com/world/151512
• Qingqing, C. & Kunyi, Y., Lithuania’s decision to quit China-CEEC 17+1 won’t change fundamentals of platform, https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202105/1224260.shtml , (23 May 2021)
• Qiu, Z. (2015). The ‘Triple Win’: Beijing’s Blueprint for International Industrial Capacity Cooperation. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from The JamesTown: https://jamestown.org/program/the-triple-win-beijings-blueprint-for-international-industrial-capacity-cooperation/
• RAILFREIGHT. (2021). China-Europe Express celebrates ten year anniversary.( 09.06.2021), (16.07.2021), Retrieved from RAILFREIGHT: https://www.railfreight.com/beltandroad/2021/03/19/china-europe-express-celebrates-ten-years-anniversary/?gdpr=deny
• Schwilling, A. (2019). New Silk Road could surge to million TEU in 2025, but with subsidies. (17.08.2021) Retrieved from RailFreight: https://www.railfreight.com/specials/2019/06/04/new-silk-road-could-surge-to-million-teu-in-2025-but-with-subsidies/?gdpr=deny
• Security Information Service (BIS). (2015). Annual Report of the Security Information Service for 2015. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from https://www.bis.cz/annual-reports/annual-report-of-the-security-information-service-for-2015-442e6079.html
• Song, W. (2019). Logic of the Chinese developmental state and China’s geo-economic engagement with Central and Eastern Europe. Asia Europe Journal.
• Szczudlik, J. (2017). Seven years of the 16+1: An Assessment of China’s ‘Multilateral Bilateralism’in Central Europe. Paris: French Institute of International Relations.
• Szunomár, Á. (2019). China‘s investments and infrastructural expansion in Central and Eastern Europe. In S. Jian, & H. Guenter, Opportunities and challenges: sustainability of China-EU relations in a changing world (pp. 84-103). Beijing: China Social Sciences Press.
• Szunomár, Á., Karindi, L., & Leonte, A. (2020). Economic relations: A sugar cane, or a sugar-coated stick? Prague: Association for International Affairs (AMO).
• The Baltic Course. (2017). Latvian Investment and Development Agency inks tourism cooperation agreement with Alibaba Group. (17.07.2021), Retrieved from http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/good_for_business/?doc=129738&underline=chinese+tourists
• Tubilewicz, C. (1999). Comrades No More: Sino–Central European Relations after the Cold War. Problems of Post-Communism, 3-14.
• Turcsanyi, R. Q. (2015). Is the Czech Republic China’s New ‘Bridge to Europe’? (17.07.2021), Retrieved from The Diplomat: https://thediplomat.com/2015/09/is-the-czech-republic-chinas-new-bridge-to-europe/
• United Nations. (2019). 2018 International Trade Statistics Yearbook . New York.
• Vangeli, A. (2017). China’s Engagement with the Sixteen Countries of Central, East and Southeast Europe under the Belt and Road Initiative. China & World Economy, 101-124.
• Vangeli, A., & Pavlićević, D. (2019). Introduction:New perspectives on China – Central and Eastern Europe relations. Asia Europe Journal, 361-368.