Guo Weimin (L), deputy chief of the State Council Information Office of China, and Levente Magyar (R), State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, attend the opening of the 2nd China-CEEC Spokespersons's Dialogue in Budapest, Hungary on April 25, 2018. Government spokespersons from China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) gathered here on Wednesday for the 2nd China-CEEC Spokespersons's Dialogue under the theme "Openness and Communications: Building a Community with a Shared Future of Mankind". (Xinhua/Yang Yongqian)
BUDAPEST, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Government spokespersons from China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) gathered here on Wednesday for the 2nd China-CEEC Spokespersons's Dialogue under the theme "Openness and Communications: Building a Community with a Shared Future of Mankind".
"The theme of this dialogue suits the current trend, meets expectations from all sides, and reflects our historical thinking and undertaking as spokespersons," said Guo Weimin, deputy chief of the State Council Information Office of China, at the opening of the dialogue.
"Notwithstanding China and CEEC have different domestic situations, our jobs in promoting transparency in government information are the same, our functions to connect government and society, connect home and abroad are the same, our goals to cultivate societal consensus and push forward communication and cooperation are the same," he added.
"In recent years, China and CEEC have been engaged in more comprehensive cooperation, including cooperations in humanity and journalism. The exchange and cooperation among spokespersons play a vital role in deepening such cooperation," Guo said.
Guo also told that China and CEEC have established a very good foundation for spokespersons' dialogue. "As the press service of the Chinese government, Chinese State Council information office will adhere to the principle of open communication, and promote the cooperation and dialogue with CEEC, in order to strengthen mutual understanding and build consensus," he added.
Levente Magyar, state secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, said that China-proposed Belt and Road initiative is "very important for Central and Eastern Europe and presents great opportunities."
Noting that many Central and Eastern European countries have expressed their willingness to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, he said, "In the future, we will strengthen the promotion and interpretation of cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe and expand this cooperation."
He also explained that Hungary was willing to serve as an engine for China's cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe, linking our goals with the "Belt and Road".
The spokespersons of CEEC participating in the dialogue came from Albania, Estonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Croatia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia.
"16+1" PLATFORM FOR COOPERATION
Participants shared their views and opinions on the role of the spokespersons in national governance and crisis communication, press and communications under the new media environment, and cooperation between China and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
"Albania reaffirms its full commitment to China-CEE initiative, sharing the common aspiration to turn this cooperation into a success story," said Donika Hoxha, director of Economic and Public Diplomacy and Diaspora, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania. "In our assessment, '16+1 cooperation' continues to be a very important platform that serves primarily economic cooperation, but at the same time it is also a communication and cultural understanding platform between east and west."
