Opportunities and Challenges for the Further Development of the 16+1 Framework

Salát, Gergely (2022) Opportunities and Challenges for the Further Development of the 16+1 Framework. In: Results and challenges. Neumann János Egyetem, Eurázsia Központ, Budapest, pp. 80-99. ISBN 9786156435057

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Abstract

The 16+1 framework was established ten years ago, and the anniversary provides all the parties involved an opportunity to evaluate the results of the cooperation, reconsider its future, and make the amendments necessary to ensure the success of the project. The framework, from the Chinese side, was part of a series of creating multilateral forums of cooperation throughout the globe, while for the side of Central and Eastern European countries it meant an opportunity to diversify their economic relations after the 2008 global economic crisis. Business and economy were the focus of the initiative from both sides. In the first phase of the cooperation (2012-2013) the institutional structure of the cooperation was created. In the second phase (2014-2018), the framework was started to be filled with contents and was linked to the Belt and Road Initiative. In the third phase, a serious setback took place. The problems leading to the setback were caused by unfounded expectations, structural factors, cultural differences, the narrow economic focus of the cooperation, outside pressure, the politicization of China relations in the Central and Eastern European countries, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite all these problems, the framework should be maintained, as it has provided and will further provide advantages for all sides in the fields of politics and diplomacy, business and economics, as well as people-to-people relations. For operating the 16+1 mechanism successfully in the future, certain modifications are suggested. The EU should be more involved in 16+1 projects, China should apply a sub-regional approach to diversify its policies, Central and Eastern European states ought to cooperate more with each other, the whole framework must be made more transparent, issues related to China should be depoliticized, some multilateral flagships projects should be launched to promote the advantages of the cooperation, and more attention must be paid to soft power. With these changes, a new phase of the 16+1 cooperation can be started, one that is adapted more to the challenges and opportunities of the new era.

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