Vuk Jeremić, President of the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD) and Editor-in-Chief of Horizons, addressed a gathering of prominent Chinese scholars and policy experts at the Beijing Club for International Dialogue on July 7, 2026.
Speaking at the event titled “Horizons: Eurasian Cooperation in a Multipolar Era,” Jeremić discussed the changing geopolitical landscape in Europe and the opportunities it could create for deeper cooperation across the Eurasian continent.
The dialogue brought together leading Chinese experts in European affairs, international relations, economic development, science policy, and global governance. Participants examined the future of China–Europe relations, regional connectivity, international supply chains, and the role of different parts of Europe in an increasingly multipolar international system.
Jeremić, who previously served as Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, argued that multipolarity was no longer a theoretical possibility, but an established feature of international affairs. However, he warned that global institutions and mechanisms of cooperation had not yet fully adapted to the redistribution of economic and political power.
He emphasized that the emergence of multiple centers of power should not result in the formation of competing and isolated blocs. Instead, countries should seek practical forms of cooperation based on shared interests, particularly in infrastructure, trade, technological development, sustainable growth, and the reform of global governance.
Jeremić devoted particular attention to the position of the Western Balkans. He argued that the region’s geographical location—between Central and Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and major transport corridors connecting Europe and Asia—could allow it to play a more significant role in Eurasian cooperation.
According to Jeremić, the Western Balkans should not be viewed merely as a peripheral region waiting for integration into existing structures. It could instead serve as a bridge between China and Europe, facilitating investment, trade, infrastructure development, and greater economic connectivity across the continent.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining constructive relations between China and the European Union. Despite political disagreements and growing economic tensions, Jeremić argued that cooperation between the two sides remained essential for Europe’s future prosperity, technological development, green transition, and strategic relevance.
The Beijing discussion followed the Horizons Sustainability and Connectivity Forum, held in Belgrade on June 18 and 19, where political leaders, economists, business executives, academics, and technology experts examined the forces reshaping the international order.
The dialogue at the Beijing Club continued that exchange, placing particular emphasis on how Europe and Asia could strengthen cooperation at a time of geopolitical fragmentation and uncertainty.
