BUCHAREST — China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries intend to enhance cooperation, to explore new opportunities and to evaluate the existent potential in energy projects, said high officials on Nov 8 at the opening of the first energy ministerial conference and fair within the “16+1” format in Bucharest.

The Center for Dialogue and Cooperation on Energy Projects 16+1 (CDCEP), set up under the framework of the 16+1 cooperation format, provides an effective platform for the cooperation between the two sides, Nur Bekri, vice chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission, and director of the National Energy Administration, told the opening of the conference.

“For the CEE countries, it is a critical time for development of energy projects and infrastructure, and China is ready to boost cooperation,” he said.

China advanced proposals to set up a Chinese secretariat for the CDCEP to organize regular technical exchange activities, to conduct joint study on bilateral energy cooperation, to clarify and prospect the projects, and to understand the needs of each part, Bekri added.

Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu said Romania is ready to work together with China and other CEE countries to jointly build a modern, efficient and sustainable global energy architecture.

At the same time, he said Romania will also take the opportunity of building “the Belt and Road Initiative” and step up its all-around and pragmatic cooperation with China in the energy field.

The conference was attended by high ranking officials from the CEE countries and leaders of the energy business communities from China, Romania and other CEE countries, with two documents adopted: the white paper on energy and the ministers’ statement on joint energy research.

The event is organized by Romania’s Foreign Ministry and the Energy Ministry, in cooperation with the CDCEP, which was established in October 2016, as a Romanian initiative within the 16+1 format, to provide a dynamic networking platform for advancing cooperation in the field of energy between the partner countries.