Ningbo Meets CEE, New Opportunities Shared—Advancing Practical Economic and Trade Cooperation

 

 

(Above) On May 22, the 4th China-CEEC Expo commenced in Ningbo. Image provided by the Executive Committee of the China-CEEC Expo

 

 

Since 2014, Ningbo has dedicated efforts to hosting the China–Central and Eastern European Countries Expo (abbreviated as "China–CEEC Expo") and establishing the China-CEEC Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone. By actively engaging in the China-CEEC Cooperation Mechanism, Ningbo has deepened partnerships and pursued innovative practices across various domains, including trade exchange, investment collaboration, shipping logistics, technological innovation, and cultural interactions.

In 2022, Ningbo introduced the "Overall Plan for the High-Level Construction of the Ningbo China-CEEC Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone," detailing a task framework featuring "One Expo, One Core, and Four Centers"("One Expo" refers to the China-CEEC Expo,"One Core" signifies the 120-square-kilometer core area of the demonstration zone, and "Four Centers" include the China-CEEC Economic and Trade Promotion Center, the Shipping and Logistics Center, the Science and Technology Innovation Center, and the Cultural Exchange Center). In recent years, Ningbo has consistently enhanced the role of the China-CEEC Expo as a platform, promoted practical economic and trade cooperation extensively, and fostered comprehensive cultural and scientific educational exchanges, achieving significant outcomes. Currently, as the only national-level institutional exhibition in China oriented towards Central and Eastern Europe, the China-CEEC Expo has become a prominent symbol of Ningbo and even Zhejiang's openness to global engagement.

Expand and Fortify the China-CEEC Expo

Uphold the principles of practical collaboration and mutual benefit, dedicate city-wide efforts to successfully hosting the China-CEEC Expo, and contribute local resources to fostering the high-quality development of collaboration between China and CEECs.

Support the country's overarching diplomatic strategy. Strive to expand the "CEE+" network in over ten areas, including trade, investment, customs partnerships, and regional collaborations. The 4th China-CEEC Expo featured exhibitors from all 14 CEE countries and showcased products from 9 other nations such as the United Kingdom and Germany. Simultaneously, over 80 events were conducted, encompassing the signing ceremony for CEE goods procurement, the "Empowering Exports, Connecting Globally" trade promotion, and "Hi-Shopping CEEC" activities. During this period, practical achievements were realized across multiple domains, including association collaborations, customs inspections, and local partnerships. For example: The Joint Chamber meeting released authoritative reports such as the Research on New Areas and Opportunities for China-CEEC Cooperation, while establishing specialized platforms including the China-Hungary Commercial Law Cooperation Secretariat to support cross-regional business development. The Customs Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation Dialogue was conducted, culminating in the signing of agricultural food product inspection and quarantine access protocols with Bulgaria and Croatia on-site. This effort enabled the creation of a cross-border customs inspection and quarantine information sharing and liaison mechanism, fostering bilateral trade facilitation.

Establish a high-capacity open platform. The 4th China-CEEC Expo featured numerous highlights, boasting an exhibition area of 80,000 square meters - a 15% growth compared to the previous session. The event recorded import purchase orders totaling RMB 10.98 billion. Specifically addressing the transition of export products to the domestic market, a "Premium Foreign Trade Products Across China" zone was designated to display a variety of products, including household items and intelligent appliances. The event facilitated well-coordinated transactions involving over 100 national buyers, achieving on-site dealse exceeding RMB 100 million. Since the 3rd China-CEEC Expo, the Ningbo Dongqian Lake International Conference Center has been inaugurated, fostering synergized hosting of the CEE Specialty Exhibition and the International Consumer Goods Exhibition. The China-CEEC Expo combines an "offline exhibition" with an "online cloud exhibition" and the "perennial exhibition at the perennial pavilion" to create a "5+365" day platform for economic and trade cooperation. An array of EU geographical indication products, such as Greek Kozanisi saffron, alongside innovative technological items from CEE, including the Hungarian "Magic Wall", Czech Shark Aircraft, and Slovenian Bat Aircraft, debuted through the China-CEEC Expo platform. Projects including Hungary's Quantum Cement, Slovenian Ski Equipment, Romania's eMAG Yangtze River Delta (Ningbo) Operation Center, and the European Consumer Goods Exhibition and Experience Center were contracted to establish a presence in Ningbo via the China-CEEC Expo platform, aiming to transform merchants into investors and purchasers into traders.

 

 

(Above) On May 22, a signing event for CEE commodity procurement was conducted, culminating in the signing of 24 projects in total. Image provided by the Executive Committee of the China-CEEC Expo

 

 

Deepen and Solidify Bilateral Trade Cooperation

Focus on establishing a "Preferred Destination for Bilateral Trade" between China and CEEC, enhancing economic and trade collaborations with these regions.

Strive to significantly increase the scale of imports. Implement a range of initiatives, such as promoting enterprises to "going global" for sourcing, enhancing the development of core entities, hosting supply-demand matching events, building digital platforms, and delivering specialized trade facilitation services, thereby continuously boosting import volumes of CEE goods. In 2024, Ningbo's imports from CEEC reached RMB 12.1 billion, marking a 7.5-fold increase over 2014, with an average annual growth rate of 23.9%. From 2021 to 2024, the average annual growth rate exceeded 40%, and the national contribution ratio rose from 1.7% to 5.5%.

Reinforce linkages among resources of leading industries. Facilitate the "going global" strategy for leading industries to integrate into the CEE industrial chain, support expansion of established enterprises, and achieve notable outcomes in foreign investments. By the end of 2024, Ningbo's investments in 84 projects in CEEC reached a total scale of USD 1.19 billion. The number of projects has doubled from the end of 2014, and the investment scale has increased fiftyfold. Specifically, since 2021, the newly added investment scale has exceeded USD 800 million. Leading enterprises including Minth,Joyson,Huaxiang, Haitian Plastic Machinery, and Riyue Heavy Industry have strategically invested in CEEC.

Optimize the trade facilitation environment. Advocating for the support of the General Administration of Customs to establish itself as the sole pilot port in China for importing food products from CEE. Establishing a specialized risk assessment expert database for agricultural and food products from CEE, managing access evaluation operations, and facilitating the import of various products such as Albanian honey and dairy, Slovak lamb, Polish beef, Serbian honey, and pet food into China. Developing a collection of economic and trade cooperation platforms including the CEE Cloud Exhibition, Perennial Pavilion, Independent Station, One-Stop Import Clearance Service, Purchasing Alliance, Trade Logistics Park, Industrial Cooperation Park, and a Youth Innovation Center.

Regularly organize and host economic and trade exchange events. Apart from the China-CEEC Expo, by leveraging both domestic and international collaboration and integrating online and offline approaches, partnerships are developed with CEEC administrative entities, Chinese-based embassies and consulates, business associations, domestic universities, and enterprises to facilitate diverse economic and trade exchange events. The events include brand-building activities such as "Charming CEEC","Hi-Shopping CEEC", and "Exploring CEEC". Key municipal leadership has repeatedly led delegations to CEECs to promote and advocate for the China-CEEC Expo, along with hosting unique economic and trade collaboration and exchange programs.

Expand cooperation in shipping and logistics. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ningbo pioneered the use of chartered business flights to Budapest, Hungary—an initiative first of its kind in China to explore overseas markets. Building on this foundation, a regular direct passenger flight route was launched in 2023. In 2024, the container shipping volume between Ningbo Zhoushan Port and five selected ports in CEE reached 786,000 TEUs, reflecting a 2.3-fold increase compared to 2014.

Refine and Enhance Comprehensive Cooperation in Science, Education, and Culture

Under the comprehensive framework of the cooperation mechanism, efforts are concentrated on advancing economic and trade collaborations while simultaneously promoting scientific, educational, and cultural exchanges, consistently strengthening cooperative ties.

Foster the establishment and operation of national-level platforms for science and technology innovation. Endeavor to secure support from the Ministry of Science and Technology to facilitate the founding of the China-CEEC Innovation Cooperation Research Center in Ningbo. Since its founding, the center has produced the Blue Book titled "Research on Innovation Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries", developed a digital map illustrating the innovation ecosystems of 14 CEE countries, and forged partnerships with various innovation-focused ministerial departments, research institutions, universities, and technology transfer organizations in the region.

Strengthen subnational sister-city cooperation. Ningbo has established sister-city relationships, friendly exchange ties, or special cooperation programs with 19 cities in CEEC, becoming the first city in China to achieve full sister-city coverage across the region. Liaison offices have been established in 9 CEE countries. These offices connect with local governments, trade associations, businesses, and educational institutions to deepen exchanges and cooperation with the host nations in various domains and build a comprehensive network for operations in CEE, anchored by key countries.

Deepen educational exchanges and cooperation. The China-CEEC Vocational Education Industry Alliance, initiated by the organization, marks the first multilateral cooperation platform in national vocational education incorporated into the China-CEEC Cooperation Framework. Partnerships have been formed with 90 educational institutions in CEEC, covering all countries in the region. Over 100 educational collaboration agreements have been signed, leading to the establishment of two ministerial-level country and regional research centers, three overseas educational institutions, and four CEEC language and cultural centers.

Enhance the promotion of culture and tourism. In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Sofia Chinese Cultural Center was established. A range of activities, including cultural events, exchanges, training programs, industry promotion, tourism initiatives, and informational services, have been organized and executed. The China-Bulgaria Silk Road Institute was established to narrate China's rich stories and introduce Ningbo's vibrant culture to CEE countries and globally through a hybrid approach of online and offline teaching methods.

 

Text | Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Commerce

Editor: Liu Yiran

 

 

---

          Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Ningbo Newsreport. The Ningbo Newsreport version shall prevail.