A spokesman for Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said, “We would rather be more involved in the EU 27+1 mechanism and deal with China (the Chinese Communist Party) through the EU’s common policy.” Photo shows flags of European countries in front of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France, Jan. 27, 2020.
The 17+1 summit between Beijing and Central and Eastern European leaders on Feb. 9 was met with a lukewarm reception, with several European leaders, including Lithuania, declining to attend. The Chinese Communist Party’s ambition to bring in Central and Eastern Europe has been thwarted.
Xi Jinping used the diplomatic format of the 17+1 summit in an attempt to strengthen ties with 17 CEE countries (12 of which are in the EU), mainly in an attempt to promote large-scale infrastructure investment and the Belt and Road Initiative.
“The 17+1 summit was originally scheduled for early last year, but was postponed to February this year due to the Epidemic, and was held by online video instead.
The German newspaper Handelsblatt, citing diplomatic circles, reported that despite Xi Jinping’s personal appearance at the “17+1” summit, several leaders of Central and Eastern European countries lacked interest in the video conference, and the Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Romania decided to reject the Chinese invitation, and the heads of state would not The heads of state will not attend, and at most will assign lower-ranking officials to participate in the meeting.
Politico Europe reports that the leaders of at least two Baltic states have reacted coldly to the invitation to the 17+1 summit, declining to attend and sending lower-level ministers instead.
Lithuania and Estonia confirmed that neither their presidents nor prime ministers will attend the summit, frustrating the Chinese Communist Party’s ability to continue to attract the Baltic states.
A spokesman for Lithuania’s permanent representative to the EU said, “At the moment, we can confirm that officials at the level of the Lithuanian president and prime minister will not be present at the 17+1 meeting.”
An Estonian government spokesman said attendance at the summit would be taken up by Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets.
“We are still finalizing details on the level of participation (of summit officials) due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Latvian prime minister’s office said in a response.
A spokesman for Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said, “We would rather be more involved in the EU 27+1 mechanism and deal with China (the Chinese Communist Party) through the EU’s common policy.”
German newspaper “Handelsblatt” reported that sources familiar with the matter revealed that the CEE countries have turned to a wait-and-see approach to the “17+1” mechanism, not only because they are disappointed that China’s investment commitments have not been fulfilled, but also because the summit is too political and lacks economic and trade content.
The Chinese side did not provide details of the summit, such as the exact date and the participants.
A spokesman for the Chinese delegation to the EU said the (17+1) summit has been postponed from last year’s original plan due to the epidemic.” “Preparations for the summit are still underway. Currently, we have been in contact with all parties regarding the arrangements for the summit.”
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been attempting to bring in Eastern European countries, especially after the CCP proposed the “Belt and Road” project and the 17+1 mechanism with Central and Eastern European countries. However, many Eastern European countries have also changed their attitudes toward the Chinese Communist Party and see it as a major threat after it imposed the “Hong Kong version of the National Security Law.
Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid told the German newspaper Die Welt in mid-July 2020 that Europe was united against the threat from Russia and the Chinese Communist Party.
Security reports published by the three Baltic states now see the Chinese Communist Party as a major security threat on par with Russia. The Estonian and Latvian security agencies, in their security reports published in early 2020 and late December 2019, mentioned the CCP threat for the first Time. The report published by Lithuanian security agencies in February 2020 was followed by another mention of the CCP threat in 2019.
Romania announced in June 2020 that it was withdrawing the agreement signed with the CCP regarding the construction of two nuclear power plant units, around which construction projects involving billions of euros will later be re-tendered by Romania.
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