Estonia and Lithuania leave 16+1 format

Following Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia also left the so-called 16+1 format for cooperation between Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) and China. „Estonia will continue to work towards constructive and pragmatic relations with China,“ the Estonian Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday. This includes „promoting EU-China relations in accordance with the rules-based international order and values such as human rights,“ the ministry added. Estonia had been a participant in the cooperation format since 2012.