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On May 23, 2025, as one of the key events of the Fourth China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo, the 2025 China-Central and Eastern European Countries Mayors’ Forum was held in Ningbo. Viorica Dăncilă, Co-Chair of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and former Prime Minister of Romania, who was invited to China to attend the Expo, participated in the forum and gave an exclusive interview to China Media Group. She congratulated the successful hosting of the Expo, spoke highly of China’s development achievements, and expressed her expectation that Romania’s new government would strengthen cooperation with China and further advance bilateral relations.



As an old friend of China, Dăncilă described her impressions of this visit as “feels new every time,” noting that each visit brings different discoveries and gains. She also openly expressed her affection for China, stating: “I appreciate the warmth and hospitality of the Chinese people, admire China’s development approach, and China consistently brings us continuous surprises through rapid innovation.” She further praised China’s visa-free policies, remarking that they are beneficial to both China and the world and are worthy of reference by other countries.

Following the recent conclusion of Romania’s presidential election, Dăncilă also shared her expectations for the new government’s development of relations with China: “Over the 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China has always been a friendly partner and a model of development for Romania. Strengthening relations with China on the basis of mutual respect and common development will bring many benefits to Romania.”

On 26 March 2025, Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Chairman of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and former Prime Minister of Spain, held talks in Yichang with Mr. Tan Hua, Party Secretary and Chairman of China Gezhouba Group Corporation of Energy China. The two sides conducted in-depth exchanges on supporting Spain’s low-carbon and green energy transition, jointly developing high-quality benchmark cooperation projects between Chinese and Spanish enterprises, and expanding pragmatic cooperation in areas including green and low-carbon energy, hydropower, water resources, and environmental protection. During the meeting, broad consensus was reached.

Mr. Zapatero expressed appreciation for Gezhouba Group’s contributions to China–Spain economic and trade relations and to the development of the green and low-carbon energy sector. He noted that Energy China and Gezhouba Group, as leading enterprises in the global energy and power sector, possess strong comprehensive capabilities and prominent integrated advantages, and enjoy significant development potential in Spain. He welcomed Gezhouba Group’s in-depth participation in investment and construction in key sectors in Spain, including new energy, hydropower, and water and environmental protection. He also expressed his expectation that both sides would further strengthen communication and mutual visits, advance a package of cooperation projects based on a cooperation project list, and support Spain’s green and low-carbon energy transition.

Mr. Tan Hua welcomed Mr. Zapatero and his delegation. He noted that Gezhouba Group takes its name from the construction of the Gezhouba Project, the first dam on the Yangtze River, and is renowned as a main force in the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydropower project. The Group is widely recognized as a “global calling card” for hydropower construction and a leading enterprise under the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the years, Gezhouba Group has actively expanded its overseas presence, with operations in more than 100 countries and regions worldwide. Spain is an important overseas market for Energy China. Gezhouba Group is willing to leverage the advantages of the “Four New” energy platform to further strengthen localized operations in Spain. While actively participating in investment and construction in Spain’s green and low-carbon energy, hydropower, and water and environmental protection sectors, the Group will also work closely with Spanish local enterprises to jointly participate in renewable energy projects—such as photovoltaic and solar thermal hybrid projects, wind power, pumped-storage hydropower, and hydrogen energy—in Latin America, North Africa, the Middle East, and other regions, with the aim of building high-quality benchmark cooperation projects between Chinese and Spanish enterprises.

Prior to the talks, Mr. Tan Hua accompanied Mr. Zapatero and his delegation on visits to the Three Gorges Project Museum, the crest of the Three Gorges Dam, and the River Closure Memorial Park.

On 25 March 2025, Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Chairman of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and former Prime Minister of Spain, together with the Delegation, met with Mr. Liu Xiaoming, Deputy Secretary of the Hainan Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Hainan Province, in Boao.

Mr. Zapatero stated that China has become Spain’s largest trading partner aside from the European Union. He noted that China continues to expand high-level opening-up and is vigorously advancing the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, positioning Hainan as a more open gateway to the world. Spain is willing to deepen cooperation with Hainan in areas such as tourism, ports, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, clean energy, and artificial intelligence, in order to achieve mutual benefit and win-win development through joint efforts.

Mr. Liu Xiaoming welcomed Mr. Zapatero and his delegation and introduced the general conditions of Hainan Province and the progress of Free Trade Port development. He noted that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China–Spain comprehensive strategic partnership. Hainan has long maintained close bilateral relations with Spain and hopes to further strengthen cooperation in tourism, economic and trade exchanges, ports, and subnational government engagement. He expressed expectations for advancing one-stop tourism product development, mutual exchange of tourist sources, connecting flight routes, leveraging the China International Consumer Products Expo to expand markets for high-quality products, opening regular shipping routes, establishing sister-city relationships, carrying out third-party cooperation with Latin America, and jointly promoting sustainable development.

On March 25, 2025, Song Hailiang, Secretary of the CPC Committee and Chairman of China Energy Engineering Group Co., Ltd. (Energy China), met in Boao with José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, President of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and former Prime Minister of Spain, who was in China to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025. The two sides held in-depth exchanges on promoting global connectivity and advancing practical cooperation in areas including power transmission, integrated energy storage, digital–energy integration, hydrogen-based fuels, and green investment and financing. They expressed their willingness to contribute to elevating the China–Spain comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level and to jointly provide wisdom and momentum for the global transition toward green and low-carbon energy.

On the morning of February 18th (local time), Worldwide Perspectives on Geographical Indications organized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) grandly opens at the UN Headquarters in Rome. The event brought together 150 global participants for cross-sector discussions focused on core topics related to geographical indications (GIs). Qu Dongyu, Director-General of FAO; Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry of the Italian Republic delivered speeches at the opening ceremony; Pan Feng, President of Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC), delivered keynote speech.

At noon on February 18th (local time), Pan Feng, President of Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC), held a working discussion with Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The two sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on key topics, including strengthening cooperation with FAO, promoting China-EU geographical indication(GI) product activities, and addressing food security and safeguards.

On the morning of February 17 (local time), the first annual working meeting of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council for 2025 was convened in Madrid. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Chairman of the Council and former Prime Minister of Spain, held discussions with Pan Feng, President of the Council. The two sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on key topics, including advancing economic and trade exchanges between China and Spain, investments by Chinese new energy enterprises in Spain,the China-EU Former Senior Officials Dialogue, the China-EU High-Level Entrepreneurs Dialogue, the hosting of the 4th China-EU Geographical Indications Products Expo, and Spain’s participation in the National Pavilion of the 8th China International Import Expo. Miguel Sebastian Gascon, former Spanish Minister of Industry, Rafael Galan, Secretary-General of the EU-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council, and over ten other representatives accompanied.

On the evening of November 18th, the business gala of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) was successfully held in Madrid. Mr. Jose Luis Zapatero, Chairman of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and former Prime Minister of Spain, delivered a speech at the gala and had a working discussion with Mr. Pan Feng, President of ECECDC, before the dinner started. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Spain to a new level, Chinese enterprises’ investment in Spain, dialogue between Former Senior Officials of China and Europe, dialogue between High-Level Entrepreneurs of China and Europe, and the organization of the 8th China International Import Expo, and other related topics. Yao Jing, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to the Kingdom of Spain and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to the Principality of Andorra, Inma Rodriguez Piero, Member of the European Parliament and Member of the International Trade Committee, and Miguel Sebastian Gascon, Former Minister of Industry of Spain, were among the more than 30 distinguished guests attended the event.

On the morning of November 5, 2024, the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE), themed “New Era, Shared Future,” 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.

On 18 October 2024 (local time), Mr. José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Chairman of the Europe-China Economic Cooperation and Development Council (ECECDC) and former Prime Minister of Spain, held talks in Madrid with Mr. Song Hailiang, Party Secretary and Chairman of China Energy Engineering Group (Energy China). The two sides conducted in-depth exchanges on jointly advancing global connectivity, strengthening clean energy development, building new-type power systems, and establishing joint technology innovation centers, among other areas of pragmatic cooperation. The discussions aimed to support the stable and sound development of the China–EU comprehensive strategic partnership and to contribute wisdom and strength to the global green and low-carbon energy transition.

Mr. Zapatero expressed appreciation for Energy China’s contributions to China–Spain economic and trade relations and to the development of the green and low-carbon energy sector. He noted that Europe–China relations are vital to world peace and stability. As a close friend of China within the European Union and an important cooperation partner, Spain firmly supports openness and free trade and actively promotes mutually beneficial and win-win development between the two countries. He emphasized that ECECDC will continue to play its role as a bridge, promoting sustained exchanges and cooperation between European stakeholders and China. The Council will also actively support Chinese enterprises, including Energy China, in expanding their competitive industries in Europe, working together to make greater contributions to addressing global climate change and advancing the green energy transition.