China calls Visegrad group EU’s most ‘dynamic force’ at summit in Beijing
State Councillor Wang Yi tells foreign ministers from the four countries that Beijing supports their participation in its belt and road trade plan
China believes the Visegrad group in the European Union – Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic and Poland – is the bloc’s most dynamic force, China’s top diplomat said, praising a grouping which has had strained ties with Western Europe.
The four countries have been at odds with Brussels over issues including immigration and fundamental rights, with the Slovak prime minister complaining in January they should not be treated as “black sheep” in the EU.
China has courted central and eastern European states, including with annual summits, which has fed concern in Western European capitals that Beijing is seeking to divide the continent.
Reuters earlier this month reported that China was considering paring back the summits, although China says preparatory talks for this year’s summit in Bulgaria are continuing.
Meeting vice foreign ministers from the four countries in Beijing on Thursday, Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi said China appreciated the Visegrad countries’ efforts to achieve win-win cooperation and common development with China and supports their participation in the “Belt and Road Initiative”.