China’s relations with Central Eastern Europe countries entered into a new phase with the launch of the 16+1 initiative. This new multilateral framework offers opportunities posed by China’s growing presence in CEE region, as well as risk that such developments hold for particular countries. China’s “12 Measures for Promoting Friendly Cooperation with Central and Eastern European Countries” announced in 2012 by then-Premier Wen Jiabao aims to strengthen economic cooperation. Chinese state-owned enterprises, backed-up by state-owned banks, will invest in infrastructure projects such as high-speed railways, energy and telecommunications.

Although China’s engagement in CEE region should not be seen as surprise and China’s “go global” strategy has a long history, this new multilateral framework offers good platform to discuss China’s broader economic and political objectives. Ultimately, China’s actions in the CEE region will have a profound implications on the rest of Europe. The China Policy Institute has invited number of scholars to contribute to the debate on China’s engagement in the region through trade and investment, China political ties with the CEE and as well as individual countries, China’s soft power and foreign policy.

Contributors include:

Saša Istenič, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Dominik Mierzejewski, University of Lodz, Poland

Martin Lavicka, Palacky University, Czech Republic

Sarmiza Pencea, Romanian Academy, Romania

Richard Turcsányi, The European Institute for Asian Studies, Belgium