The Secretariat for Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (also known as “16 + 1 cooperation”) hosted the 2018 inauguration ceremony for the Research Fund for Relationship between China and Central and Eastern European Countries on April 12th, attended by Counselor Lu Shan, Deputy Secretary General of the Secretariat. Representatives from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Comprehensive Transportation research Institute of NDRC, and China Institute of International Studies held discussions.

　　Counselor Lu Shan gave a briefing on the development of 16 + 1 cooperation, opportunities and challenges it is faced with, and its future direction. He encouraged scholars to contribute their insight for 16 + 1 cooperation. All the participants expressed their willingness to display their academic strength to provide intellectual support to 16 + 1 cooperation.