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Estonia and Latvia withdrew from a Chinese diplomatic forum Thursday that was established to engage with Central and Eastern European nations because of rising concerns about Beijing's relations with Moscow.
"Estonia decided it would no longer participate in the cooperation platform between Central and Eastern European countries and China," the Estonian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Estonia will continue to work towards constructive and pragmatic relations with China, which includes advancing EU-China relations in line with the rules-based international order and values such as human rights,"
The ministry said: "In view of the current priorities of Latvian foreign and trade policy, Latvia has decided to cease its participation in the cooperation framework of Central and Eastern European Countries and China."
"Latvia will continue to strive for constructive and pragmatic relations with China both bilaterally, as well as through EU-China cooperation based on mutual benefit, respect for international law, human rights and the international rules-based order," it added.
Beijing has not commented on the moves.
The moves are seen as a blow to China's diplomatic initiatives on the continent, according to the POLITICO news organization based in Brussels.
Lithuania was the first to end the cooperation platform in 2021 when the group was styled as the 17 + 1, a diplomatic forum in which 17 countries aspired to meet the common ground with Beijing.
The moves Thursday slashes the framework to 14 + 1.
China's declaration of a "no limits" friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin is a major concern for Baltic nations which worry that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has laid down a marker for an extended attempt by Putin to restore the Soviet empire. -
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