Don’t expect a real-life Game of Thrones at Dubrovnik summit, says Chinese Premier Li Keqiang
- Chinese premier promises ‘win-win cooperation’ rather than feuding ahead of summit in historic port where parts of hit drama were filmed
- Li seeks to capitalise on fantasy show’s popularity as part of charm offensive to expand Chinese influence in Central and Eastern Europe
Premier Li Keqiang has said China’s relations with Central and Eastern Europe will not descend to the level of Game of Thrones ahead of a key summit at one of the drama’s most recognisable locations.
Li made the reference to the hit American show following a meeting with the Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Wednesday, ahead of the “16 + 1” summit in Dubrovnik on Friday, where China will seek to deepen its influence in the region.
“From what I have heard, the historic and cultural city of Dubrovnik is the location of scenes in the show Game of Thrones, which young people from many countries love,” he said, according to Chinese news site Guancha and local Croatian media.
Several scenes from the fantasy drama were shot in the fortified medieval port, which doubled as King’s Landing, the capital of the show’s fictitious Seven Kingdoms.
The story of feuding noble dynasties is also notorious for its scenes of sex and violence and only heavily censored versions have been allowed to air on mainland China.
In the fantasy drama, politics boils down to the maxim “you win or you die”, but Li insisted:
