China in the Multilateral World – Economic and Political Pragmatism of Southeast European Countries

Abstract

The text is an attempt to assess the place and role of China in Europe, with particular emphasis on the change we are dealing with in the third decade of the 21st century. They are multidimensional in nature, we can analyse them from a political, economic, and social perspective. The geopolitical and geostrategic aspect considered from the perspective of the interests of the United States, the European Union and China is also important. The article has an analysis related to the changes brought about by the perspective of a multilateral world with China as one of the main actors in the international space. However, the main strand of the analysis was devoted to Europe, with particular emphasis on the geographical sub-region of South-Eastern Europe. The research questions posed were: what role does China play in Southeastern Europe? Can China’s place and role in this subregion be an example for other countries of Central and Eastern Europe? The applied research methods are comparative analysis, document analysis and statistical analysis. The scope of the subject matter covers the relations of selected countries with China, with particular emphasis on the years 2012–2022. The conclusions of the research show the economic and political pragmatism characteristic of the above-mentioned countries in their relations with China, and this does not have to be seen from the perspective of a negative assessment. China of the 21st century is a dynamically developing economy, a modern country with a lot to offer to its economic partners. China does not impose its vision of political reality, it focuses on respect for diversity, which makes it attractive in many regions of the world.