On March 22, 2018, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing with Deputy Foreign Ministers of the Visegrad Group (V4) countries who were in China to attend the first political consultation between China and the V4.

Wang Yi expressed that the V4 countries have actively supported and participated in the joint building of the “Belt and Road” initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, as well as achieved win-win cooperation and common development with China. China expresses its appreciation in this regard. I have three suggestions for the development of the V4 and bilateral cooperation:

First, it is hoped that the V4 will contribute to the European integration process. China welcomes and supports the European integration. The V4 is a representative of European emerging market countries and also the most dynamic force in the European Union. It is believed that the V4 is able to provide new impetus for the building of the European integration.

Second, it is hoped that the V4 will play a constructive role in China-Europe relations. China has always attached great importance to China-Europe relations. The traditional friendship between China and the V4 countries serves as a positive factor in promoting the development of China-Europe relations. It is believed that the V4 will play a constructive role in prompting Europe to formulate friendlier policies towards China.

Third, it is hoped that the V4 will continue taking the lead and forging ahead in the “16+1 cooperation”. Based on the common needs of China and the Central and Eastern European countries, the “16+1 cooperation” is also an important part of China-Europe relations. The “Belt and Road” construction has injected new and strong impetus into the “16+1 cooperation”. China is willing to work together with the 16 Central and Eastern European countries, including the V4 countries, to jointly well maintain and develop the “16+1 cooperation”.

Deputy Foreign Ministers of the V4 countries congratulated China on the successful convening of the “Two Sessions” and believed that the Chinese government will lead the Chinese people to achieve the development goals set at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the “Two Sessions”. Attaching great importance to developing its relations with China, the V4 is willing to further carry out exchanges with China on the basis of bilateral relations between the four countries and China and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation under the frameworks of the “Belt and Road” construction and the “16+1 cooperation”, in a bid to play a positive role in the development of Europe-China relations.

The V4 consists of four countries, namely, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia.