China Investment Forum Again in 16+1 Format

The Czech China Chamber of Cooperation, the China Economic Cooperation Center, the Secretariat of Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries together with the China Center for Promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, NDRC, jointly organised the China Investment Forum 2018 (CIF). The forum took place on 15-17 October, Prague, Czech Republic, in the 16+1 format – 16 Central and Eastern European Countries and China.

The forum was opened on Monday 15 October with a welcome reception in the Czernin Palace, held under the auspices of Jan Hamáček, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The toast was proposed by Hou Wenbo, Managing Director of the Bank of China Czech Republic, a CIF general partner.

The CIF gala opening took place on Tuesday 16 October at the Prague Castle under the auspices of Marta Nováková, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, who delivered the opening speech. The Chinese party was represented by Cao Jianming, Vice Chairperson of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee of the People’s Republic of China. The European guests were represented by Lilyana Pavlova, Minister for Bulgarian presidency of the EU 2018. The Chinese party was also represented by Huo Yuzhen, Envoy for Coopertation between CEEC and China from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by Chang Zhenming, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CITIC Group, a CIF 2018 general partner.

The opening was followed with panels discussions in the premises of the State Rooms of the Prague Castle. The topics were: Financial Cooperation and Banking, Digital Economy, Cooperation Projects within the Belt and Road Initiative and Agriculture and Food Industry.

The last part of this main meeting day was the gala dinner held under the auspices of Miloš Zeman, President of the Czech Republic. In addition to President Zeman, Vice Chairperson Cao also delivered a speech. The toast was proposed by Jiří Šmejc, the co-owner and Chairman of the Board of Home Credit, a CIF general partner.

The Wednesday 17 October saw bilateral meetings and B2B meetings. Another point on the agenda was the Debate on Relations with China in the Light of the China Investment Forum 2018 that was jointly co-organised with the Institute for Politics and Society in the Kaiserstein Palace.