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Xi promotes vaccines to Eastern and Central European countries

China’s President Xi Jinping spoke to 17 Central and Eastern European states at the virtual summit. The main results for observers: The format is not dead, but no great leaps were made. Six of 12 EU states sent lower-ranking representatives to the meeting. Xi made promises of billions in imports.

By
Amelie Richter
Image of Amelie Richter

Little was known in advance about the content of the virtual summit between Beijing and representatives of 17 Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC). Speaking in person for the first time at a meeting of the format yesterday, President Xi Jinping proclaimed: “We believe that 17+1 can be much more than 18.” Xi promoted more vaccine cooperation and praised existing Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. He made no pledges for new project funding. Observers of the summit spoke of “old wine in new bottles” that Xi served to the CEEC.

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