LJUBLJANA, 28 January 2026 – The International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES) today appointed Dr. Dritan Abazović, Co-Chair of the Europe–China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC), former Prime Minister of Montenegro and President of the URA Civic Movement, and H.E. Vladimir Norov, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and former Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), as Vice-Chairmen of its Advisory Board.
Concluding the event, Bakhatyar Aljaf, Director of IFIMES, noting that the Institute’s strength lies in its international network and expertise, and expressing confidence that both appointees will make a valuable contribution to IFIMES’ future work.
Bakhatyar Aljaf(left), Dritan Abazović and Zijad Bećirović
On January 23, 2026, Massimo D’Alema, Co-Chairman of Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and Former Prime Minister of Italy, attended the 2025-2026 Chinese New Year Reception hosted by the China Chamber of Commerce in Italy and delivered remarks. Liu Kan, Consul General of China in Milan, attended the event and delivered a speech. Luo Jin, Minister Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Italy, Cheng Xuan, President of the China Chamber of Commerce in Italy, and other guests also attended the event and delivered remarks.
D’Alema stated that Chinese-funded enterprises in Italy have made positive contributions to Italy’s economic development. In the face of a complex and changing international situation, all parties should uphold the spirit of openness and inclusiveness, jointly address challenges through friendly cooperation, and further deepen cooperation between China and Italy in various fields.
At the beginning of the New Year, Ms. Viorica Dăncilă, Co-Chair of ECECDC and former Prime Minister of Romania, conveyed a New Year greeting to all members of the Council. In her message, she highly commended the Council’s unique role and positive contributions as an important platform for strengthening Europe-China dialogue, enhancing mutual understanding, and promoting constructive partnership, and she shared her outlook on future directions for cooperation.
In her greeting, Ms. Dăncilă stated, “As Co-Chair of the Council and President of the Romanian–Chinese House, I remain committed to supporting initiatives that deepen collaboration, promote dialogue, and create opportunities for joint growth. I look forward to another year of meaningful cooperation, shared achievements, and strengthened friendship among all members of the Council.“
At the beginning of the New Year, Mr. Dritan Abazović, Co-Chair of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and former Prime Minister of Montenegro, conveyed his New Year’s greetings for 2026 to all members of the Council. In his message, he spoke highly of the Council’s role as an important platform in advancing Europe-China dialogue and exchange, promoting pragmatic cooperation, and enhancing mutual understanding.
Mr. Abazović noted that openness, mutual trust, and constructive dialogue are essential to deepening Europe-China relations and achieving shared development. In the year ahead, he expressed his commitment to working closely with fellow members of the Council to advance practical cooperation, expand areas of collaboration, and contribute to the stable development of Europe-China relations. He also wished the Council continued success and new achievements in 2026.
On December 25, 2025, Chen Xufeng, Ambassador of China to Montenegro, met with Dritan Abazović, Co-Chair of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC), Chairman of the United Reform Action (URA), and former Prime Minister of Montenegro.
Ambassador Chen commended Abazović for his contributions to promoting pragmatic cooperation between China and Montenegro during his tenure as Prime Minister, and emphasized that China consistently upholds the principle that all countries, regardless of size, are equal. He expressed China’s willingness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with all political parties in Montenegro on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs, and noted China’s expectation that Montenegro would advance China-Montenegro friendship to a new stage with a broader strategic vision.
The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on issues of mutual interest.
On December 1, 2025, Pan Feng, President of ECECDC, held a working meeting with Charles Michel, former President of the European Council, in Brussels, Belgium. The two sides had in-depth discussions on China-Europe economic and trade cooperation, industrial green transformation, and the China-Europe Geographical Indications Agreement, the only agreement of its kind between China and Europe, as well as related forums and promotion. They also agreed to jointly advance the organization of the China-Europe Geographical Indications Agreement Forum and the China-Germany (China-Europe) Hidden Champions Forum in Shunyi District, Beijing, and to actively prepare for the China-Europe Business Leaders and Former Senior Officials Dialogue in Nanjing. On the same day, Pan Feng also met with John Clarke, former Director of the International Relations Directorate of the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission, in Brussels, for further exchanges on the aforementioned topics.
Charles Michel, Former President of the European Council
John Clarke, former Director of the International Relations Directorate of the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission
On November 14, the Belt and Road China (Chengdu)-Central and Eastern European Countries Business Community Dialogue was held at the Tianfu New Area Conference Center in Chengdu. The event was jointly organized by the China Economic Liaison Center and the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chengdu Municipal People’s Government.
Ma Hui, Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee; the Deputy Secretary of the CPC Chengdu Municipal Committee and Mayor of Chengdu; Meira Hot, Vice President of the National Assembly of Slovenia and Vice Chair of the Social Democrats; and Viorica Dăncilă, Co-Chair of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC), President of Romania-China House, and former Prime Minister of Romania, attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks.
In their speeches, all parties emphasized that the dialogue serves as an important platform for deepening pragmatic cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries under the Belt and Road framework, and will inject new momentum into business cooperation among all parties. Subsequently, the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Investment Promotion presented the city’s investment environment and key industries.
Viorica Dăncilă, Co-Chair of ECECDC, President of Romania-China House, and former Prime Minister of Romania, delivered a keynote address.
On the morning of November 5, 2025, the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai. Premier of the State Council Li Qiang attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.
Pan Feng, President of Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC), attended the opening ceremony at invitation and held meetings with leaders from several Chinese provinces and municipalities, foreign diplomats accredited to China, and representatives of well-known enterprises.
Xu Qin, Secretary of the CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee
Ye Jianchun, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and Governor of Jiangxi Province
Lu Shan, Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of Georgia, Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas of Nigeria, President of the National Council of Slovenia Marko Lotric, Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Special Representative of the President of the United Arab Emirates, and Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), addressed the ceremony via video link. Approximately 1,500 representatives from 155 countries, regions, and international organizations, including figures from government, business, and academia, attended the opening ceremony.
At the historic juncture of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU diplomatic relations, the First China-Europe Business Leaders and Former Senior Officials Dialogue, co-hosted by the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE), was successfully held in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, from September 22 to 23.
More than 30 senior representatives from the political and business communities of China and Europe gathered to engage in in-depth discussions on topics such as “New Challenges and New Opportunities in China-Europe Economic and Trade Relations” and “Deepening Practical Cooperation in Key Areas.” The dialogue aimed to build consensus and contribute wisdom for the sound and stable development of China-EU relations.
Distinguished participants included José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Chairman of ECECDC and former Prime Minister of Spain; Viorica Dăncilă, Co-Chair of ECECDC and former Prime Minister of Romania; Pan Feng, President of the ECECDC; Wang Yiming, Vice Chairman of CCIEE and Executive Vice President of its Executive Office; Hu Xiaolian, Vice Chairwoman of CCIEE; Xu Feng, Vice Mayor of the Nanjing Municipal People’s Government; Lu Shaye, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs and former Chinese Ambassador to France; as well as business leaders and former senior officials from both China and Europe. Cai Run, Head of the Chinese Mission to the EU and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, delivered a video address.
Participants noted that the current international landscape is undergoing complex changes, with profound adjustments in global industrial and supply chains. As two of the world’s major economies, China and the EU should remain committed to mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and jointly safeguard multilateralism and the free trade system.
Chinese representatives highlighted that China-EU economic and trade cooperation has achieved remarkable results, reflected not only in trade figures but also in the deep collaboration between enterprises across multiple sectors. European representatives stressed that stable and predictable economic and trade relations serve the fundamental interests of both sides. They cautioned that excessive politicization could harm market and supply chain interests, and called for deeper business cooperation in areas such as green development, digital innovation, clean energy, and energy storage to achieve mutual benefits.
The conference released a think tank research report entitled “Building a New Type of Strategic Partnership between China and Europe for the Future,” providing intellectual support for the long-term development of China-EU relations.
The successful hosting of the First China-Europe Business Leaders and Former Senior Officials Dialogue in Nanjing established a new platform for deepening exchanges between the business communities of China and Europe, and further built broad consensus on advancing practical cooperation. Looking ahead, China and the EU are expected to strengthen collaboration in green development, digital innovation, scientific research, and global governance, working hand in hand to inject greater certainty into global stability and prosperity, and jointly open a brighter chapter for the next 50 years of cooperation.
On September 21, 2025, diplomats from over twenty European countries to China visited Beijing’s Shunyi District, where they toured the China-Germany Industrial Park and the Luo Hong Art Museum to learn about the district’s industrial development and cultural features.
In the evening, the welcome banquet “European Diplomats Discover Shunyi & Soul of the Balkans’—Explore the Taste of Bosnia and Herzegovina” was held. Gong Zongyuan, Secretary of the CPC Shunyi District Committee; Viorica Dăncilă, Co-Chair of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and former Prime Minister of Romania; and Sinisa Berjan, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to China, attended and delivered speeches. Nearly 150 participants joined the event, including diplomats from more than 20 countries such as Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Serbia, and Spain, as well as representatives of chambers of commerce, the Delegation of the European Union to China, and former Chinese ambassadors to Europe.
As the international gateway of the capital and a key hub for the airport economy, Shunyi is accelerating its development into a high-quality modern new city integrating ports, industries, and urban living. This exchange event provided a platform to deepen practical cooperation between China and Europe and demonstrated Shunyi’s commitment to a high level of opening up.
Pan Feng, President of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC); Aurelian Gogulescu, Member of the ECECDC and President of the Prahova Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Denis Jelimălai, Secretary General of the ECECDC and former Ambassador of Moldova to China, also attended the event.
