Ion Ștefanovici, CAPDR: “Central and Eastern Europe, our bridge to China. Romania must get back in the game”
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
Visit Journal – Day 2: Ningbo, May 21, 2025
China-CEEC Business Council – The Architecture of an Economic Partnership with Central and Eastern Europe
The delegation of the Center for Regional Development Analysis and Planning (CAPDR), led by President Ion ȘTEFANOVICI, is currently attending the official China–CEEC Business Council meeting, held in the port city of Ningbo – a symbol of China’s economic openness and trade diplomacy.
After a first day dedicated to bilateral contacts and immersion in the economic and cultural landscape of Ningbo, the second day of the official visit was marked by participation in the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Business Council (China-CEEC Business Council) meeting. The event took place in a formal and professional setting, coordinated by Chen Jianzhong, President of the Council for the Promotion of International Trade in Zhejiang Province.
We started the day early, already adjusted – at least physically – to China’s local time, which is 5 hours ahead of Romania. The time difference affects the body’s rhythm, but the energy of the place and the packed agenda quickly brought us back in sync with our objectives.
The opening session (2:30–3:05 PM, China time) brought together high-ranking officials – Deputy Prime Ministers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, and Serbia, as well as State Secretaries from Slovenia and Slovakia. The presence of these decision-makers clearly reflected China’s continued interest in a strengthened economic partnership with Central and Eastern Europe.
The plenary session (3:05–3:25 PM) highlighted valuable perspectives from experienced leaders – former Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, Janusz Piechociński, and representatives of top Chinese companies (TCL, ZTE). Their speeches conveyed both economic realism and a desire to transform the China–CEEC relationship into a strong and lasting partnership.
Thematic discussions focused on two key directions:
- Integrated supply chains and the dual circulation model (3:40–4:25 PM) – a topic that emphasized pragmatic partnerships between Chinese companies and economic actors from the region. Contributions from Serbia, Poland, and Chinese global development groups outlined a clear horizon for collaboration in logistics, industry, and trade.
- The legal investment environment and cross-border legal cooperation (4:25–5:10 PM) – a current topic amid legislative barriers and international regulations. Representatives from Bulgaria, Hungary, and China provided valuable input on harmonizing legal frameworks and protecting investments.
The signing ceremony (5:10 PM) formalized the collaboration commitments, followed by the closed meeting of the Chinese Committee of the Council, reserved for invited members.
Personal reflection:
Among the participants representing Romania at the institutional level was Ion Ștefanovici, President of the Center for Regional Development Analysis and Planning (CAPDR), who provided a pertinent and clear analysis of the context:
“One detail worth highlighting is Poland’s visible and consistent involvement in its relationship with China. A country Romania often looks to with admiration, especially regarding the absorption of European funds and the pace of economic development.
At this event, I had the opportunity to meet a young Polish economic representative, who has been living in Shanghai for over 20 years and speaks fluent Chinese. This encounter was revealing: professionalism, cultural adaptation, and sustained presence in China reflect how Poland builds its strategic trade relationships.
In contrast, Romania was not represented by any government official at the China–CEEC Business Council meeting. This absence, in a context where leaders from Serbia, Bulgaria, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia attended at the highest level, raises questions about our foreign policy priorities. Furthermore, the Romanian Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade was completely absent from this international dialogue framework, despite the fact that the topics discussed were precisely about investment, trade, and regional economic cooperation.
At the same time, I noted the strategic importance of lowering tariff barriers in the context of global investments. This topic was discussed not only as an economic goal, but as a condition for real integration into extended value chains. It is essential for Romania, especially through the Extended Region of Moldova, to articulate a coherent position on this matter. The Romanian business environment has already shown an authentic and growing interest in trade relations with China, and our duty, as institutional representatives, is to contribute to the continuous and sustainable development of these economic bridges.
In this broader effort, a special role is played by the Romanian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, which, through the activity of its president, Nicolae Vasilescu, makes sustained efforts to support the Romanian business environment in building and consolidating trade relations with Chinese partners. It is one of the few structures that maintains a constant and active presence in this direction, and its contribution must be institutionally recognized and valued.
This experience is especially relevant for FERM 2025, the regional event we are preparing with the same openness toward international cooperation. Central and Eastern Europe undoubtedly represents the foundational network of our Region in the context of external economic relations. Understanding these dynamics, building contacts, and grasping the architecture of global investment are objectives that directly serve the development of Moldova and our strategic partnerships.
But beyond any economic or diplomatic agenda, a fundamental principle must be reaffirmed: The principle of balance.
Whether we speak of trade relations or international political dialogue, the balance between East and West, between initiative and caution, between openness and the defense of national interest must remain the cornerstone of any serious construction in our region and in the Europe of tomorrow”, CAPDR President Ion Ștefanovici stated.
