On the afternoon of March 31, Pan Feng, President of ECECDC, held a working meeting with Yao Lin, Chairman of China Mineral Resources Group Co., Ltd. The two sides conducted in-depth exchanges on issues including the security of mineral resources supply, industrial chain coordination, and central–local cooperation, and jointly explored pathways for cooperative development.
On March 28, President of ECECDC, met in Beijing with Lajos Olah, Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, and his delegation, and held a working meeting. The two sides conducted in-depth exchanges on China–Hungary economic and trade relations, two-way investment cooperation, and industrial and supply chain connectivity. They reached broad consensus on further leveraging their respective strengths, building more platforms for practical cooperation, and promoting the sustained and stable development of bilateral economic and trade relations.
During the establishment of the Europe–China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC), Pan Feng, President of the Council, held meetings and discussions with a number of former European leaders, including former President of the European Council Charles Michel, former Prime Minister of Hungary Péter Medgyessy, former Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi, former Prime Minister of France Michel Barnier, former Prime Minister of Romania Adrian Năstase, former Prime Minister of Romania Viorica Dăncilă, former Prime Minister of Finland Mari Kiviniemi, former Prime Minister of Sweden Fredrik Reinfeldt, and former Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazović. The participants conducted in-depth exchanges on topics including strengthening Europe–China economic and trade cooperation, expanding exchanges across multiple sectors, and jointly addressing global development challenges, while building broad consensus on future cooperation.
During the discussions, all participants highly commended the establishment of ECECDC, noting that its creation carries far-reaching significance and provides an important platform for dialogue and cooperation between Europe and China. Pan Feng introduced the original vision and development goals of the Council, noting that Europe and China, as important forces promoting global multipolarity and two major markets supporting economic globalization, share a strong foundation for cooperation and broad prospects for future development. He emphasized that the Council will place practical cooperation at its core, actively building bridges of mutual trust and connectivity between Europe and China, exploring diverse forms and areas of collaboration, and contributing to the advancement of Europe–China economic and trade cooperation toward a higher level and higher quality.
Former European leaders from various countries also expressed strong willingness to deepen cooperation between Europe and China. They acknowledged the vitality and potential of China’s economic development, as well as the new opportunities created by new quality productive forces for Europe–China cooperation. They noted that there is extensive room for collaboration in areas such as new energy manufacturing, sustainable development, and industrial synergy. All parties expressed hope that the establishment of the Council will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen exchanges between European and Chinese civil societies, governments, and business communities, thereby injecting new momentum from Europe and China into the stability and development of the global economy.
The Europe–China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) was officially established in Spain in May 2024, with former Prime Minister of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero serving as its Founding Chairman. The Council aims to promote more positive and effective cooperation between Europe and China at multiple levels of society and to support both sides in becoming key contributors to global peace, cooperation, and shared progress.
On the morning of March 6, Pan Feng, President of ECECDC, held a working meeting with Feng Zhongping, Director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The two sides conducted in-depth exchanges of views on topics including the current situation in Europe, the development of China–EU relations, practical China–EU economic and trade cooperation, and enhanced coordination between think tanks and industry associations, reaching a number of shared understandings.
On January 29, 2026, Ivan, Secretary-General of the Europe–China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC), led a European business delegation to conduct a study visit in Shunyi District, Beijing, focusing on biomedicine and innovation cooperation. The delegation visited the Airport Biomedical Industrial Park and the Beijing China-Germany Industrial Park, where they toured exhibition halls and received briefings on the development of Shunyi’s pharmaceutical and healthcare sector as well as the planning and progress of the parks. The delegation gained a comprehensive understanding of the parks’ industrial layout, innovation ecosystem, and international cooperation environment.
At a subsequent symposium, both sides held thematic presentations and interactive discussions on cutting-edge projects, including bacterial elimination technologies. In-depth exchanges were conducted on issues such as pathways for technology commercialization, conditions for industrial implementation, and Europe-China collaboration between scientific research and industry. Relevant officials from the Beijing China-Germany Demonstration Zone and Airport Development also participated in the event. The visit laid a solid foundation for further advancing pragmatic cooperation between China and Europe in the fields of biomedicine and scientific and technological innovation.
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.
