THE CHINA ? CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FRAMEWORK OF COOPERATION: A WIN-WIN FORMULA WITH EUROPEAN CAVEATS AND CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS

China is a key partner of the European Union in its efforts to overcome the crisis and identify new markets and investors. Central and Eastern European countries are an indispensable part of the European market and a bridge connecting Europe and Asia. Initiated by the Chinese authorities, the cooperation platform between China and sixteen central and Eastern European countries (also referred to in the diplomatic and media circles as the “16+1” cooperation format) is a relatively new concept, with an imaginative format and an impressive potential of interactions. The article sheds light on some of the reasons that led to the creation of the format and the reaction of Brussels towards the new framework of cooperation.