On Friday, Premier Li Keqiang paid an official visit to Bulgaria to attend the seventh leaders’ meeting of China and the Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC). What does Premier Li’s visit entail for future China-CEEC ties?

In a signed article for the Bulgarian newspaper 24 Chasa and Standard on July 4, Premier Li stressed the importance of strengthening ties between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Bulgaria’s national development strategy. Specifically, he addressed the need of encouraging Chinese companies to invest in Bulgaria’s infrastructure projects that suit local needs and are beneficial to the people. He also highlighted the importance of bilateral trade as well as exchanges in the fields of culture, education and people-to-people ties.

It is through cultural and people-to-people exchanges that the two countries can explore their potential for cooperation that is not only beneficial for the long-term friendship between China and Bulgaria, but also acts as a stimulus for consolidating the broader Sino-European relations. Moreover, Premier Li emphasized the need for working toward an open and inclusive “16+1” platform based on the principles of mutual respect, non-interference and equality

During his visit to Bulgaria, several documents were also signed. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov positively welcomed Chinese initiatives and wished to further work with China in improving infrastructure and solidifying mutually beneficial cooperation within the “16+1”. In this regard, the BRI is a unique opportunity for enhanced connectivity of infrastructure between China and Europe. To this end, the BRI, as an open and inclusive initiative, strongly supports and encourages Chinese enterprises to participate in infrastructure construction in other countries along the Belt and Road, and make industrial investments.

China has always attached enormous importance to the respect of countries’ sovereignty, yet it has committed to work toward economic globalization and the promotion of inclusive trade and investment liberalization. As a global responsible leader, China strongly support EU integration for it is with a stable and strong Europe that China and CEEC can work together harmoniously while defending free trade and international regulations.

Premier Li’s visit to Bulgaria marks not only a new beginning for Sino-Bulgarian ties, it also envisions new prospects for cooperation within the BRI. “No one will emerge as a winner in the trade war, but instead will undermine the multilateral free trade process. Anyone who insists on waging a trade war will hurt others as well as themselves,” Premier Li said. China’s opposition to trade protectionism and support for China-CEEC ties as well as EU integration were some of the main messages and will be the basis for future China-CEEC ties. With the new agreements that were just signed, both the Chinese and Bulgarian people will certainly come closer, united against the anti-globalization forces.

The first China-CEEC summit was held in Warsaw in 2012 and since then the head of governments of the 16 CEEC plus China have met every year. China and Central Eastern European countries trade volume amounted to $67.98 billion in 2017, up 15.9 percent on a year-on-year basis, according to data from Chinese customs. The seventh leaders’ meeting of China and the Central and Eastern European countries is certainly a historical momentum to reflect on the achievements and prospects for future cooperation between China and CEEC.

The author is a graduate of China Studies and International Relations at Peking University and the London School of Economics. Currently, he is working in the fields of development and public policy.