The front page of Ningbo Daily: A Decade in Review, Meet Central and Eastern Europe in Pavilion

 

 

The resonances of the 4th China-CEEC Expo continue to reverberate.

This June, the first nationwide Central and Eastern European Specialty Commodities Perennial Pavilion (hereinafter referred to as "Pavilion") celebrates its tenth anniversary. The "National Pavilion" located in the China-CEEC Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone has become a launching pad for CEEC's products aspiring to reach the Chinese market.

In the Polish Pavilion, curator Chen Yi opened a newly received package of rose essence. Eleven years ago, her 20,000 bottles of Polish milk first reached Ningbo, and almost no one expected much from them. Today, the products on her shelves have extended beyond dairy products to include beauty cosmetics, jewelry, etc.

Just a few steps away stands the Czech Aurora Crystal Pavilion. Curator Xu Xuequn gently caresses a crested ibis crystal goblet co-branded with Shaanxi Hanzhong. The divine bird on the goblet seems poised for flight. At the inaugural CIIE, he showcased over 30 varieties of Czech crystals, and the 36-square-meter exhibit was somewhat quiet. Today, as a "consistent participant for seven consecutive years" of the CIIE and a "consistent participant for four consecutive years" of the China-CEEC Expo, he collaborates with Czech artisans to design gold-leaf liquor goblets and crested ibis vases for the Chinese market. These items have become popular nationwide, with annual sales increasing by 20%.

A single pavilion over a decade: witnessing breakthroughs, weaving dreams, and embarking on new journeys.

Witnessing breakthroughs: The Pavilion ensures the exhibition's continuation indefinitely

In the early summer of 2014, the inaugural CEEC Specialty Products Exhibition made its debut in Ningbo. Within the exhibition hall, aromas of delicacies filled the air, attracting numerous samplers but relatively few inquiries about prices. Exhibitors gripped their calculators, their hearts filled with apprehension. Chen Yi's initial shipment of Polish milk remained in the warehouse for over sixty days.

The resolution of the predicament began with Ningbo taking on a bold mission. Ningbo Customs introduced the "One-stop Service for Imports from CEEC" expediting agricultural and food product customs processes by 40%. Furthermore, Ningbo Zhoushan Port collaborated with five Central and Eastern European ports, inaugurating the "China-Europe Express" at the year's end, reducing transit times by 12 days. Even more ambitious was the establishment of a "never-ending exhibition"—the Central and Eastern European Specialty Commodities Perennial Pavilion.

The aftermath of the first exhibition's excitement led Ningbo to contemplate two key considerations:

How could exhibits from CEEC secure a year-round venue to gain increased opportunities for entering the Chinese market?

How could Ningbo become the premier destination for imports from CEEC entering the Chinese market?

At that time, under the leadership of the Ningbo Free Trade Zone, the Ningbo Import Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center had begun to take shape. Building a perennial pavilion with CEEC characteristics by relying on this center was an ideal choice.

On June 8, 2015, the CEEC Specialty Products Perennial Exhibition was established, and the pavilions of five countries, including Poland and the Czech Republic, were the first to open. Subsequently, the exhibition expanded systematically each year.

In June 2021, the second China-CEEC Expo was inaugurated, for which President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message. On the same day, the CEEC Specialty Products Annual Exhibition was officially upgraded to the Central and Eastern European Specialty Commodities Perennial Pavilion, covering an initial phase of 16,000 square meters. In 2023, the second phase was expand by an additional 16,000 square meters.

After a decade of refinement, the platform is now showcasing unprecedented potential. Chen Yi's inventory now includes over 200 categories of products from CEEC, which are being distributed across the country.

"I once worried about sales, but now I worry about restocking," she said with a smile, pointing to the order display screen. "This is the strength of the national platform."

Weaving dreams: Czech crystal illuminates the oriental crested ibis

Deep in the Czech Pavilion of the Pavilion, crystals refract rainbow light as the crested ibis spreads its wings, poised for flight.

During the 7th CIIE, representatives from the Shaanxi Provincial Government expressed gratitude to Xu Xuequn and his Czech collaborators: "Thank you for presenting the crested ibis to the world in a new light."

Through Czech crystal, this Oriental sacred bird has been "reborn from fire," with its vivid carving starting in the fertile environment of the Pavilion.

To Xu Xuequn, the Pavilion serves as a key, unlocking the gateway to cultural fusion.

At the 6th CIIE, Chen Jing, chairman of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship, addressing the Aurora booth with a suggestion: "Why not incorporate the crested ibis motif?"

In far-off Ningbo, the resources gathered by the Pavilion were promptly mobilized: the imagery of the crested ibis was meticulously sketched by Chinese designers, refined collaboratively within the Pavilion's creative space; Prague artisans undertook the intricate task of double-layered glass engraving, culminating in two months' artistry as the design materialized into a tangible masterpiece. The efficient collaboration accumulated over the years at the Perennial Pavilion enables the co-creation of art across 8,000 kilometers.

Behind the impressive debut of national-level exhibitions lies the Pavilion's "full-cycle empowerment": prior to the exhibition, generating plans and enhancing research and development efforts; during the exhibition, boosting morale and managing resources; after the exhibition, leveraging momentum and converting opportunities into tangible business growth. The Pavilion integrates a series of national-level exhibitions, including the CIIE, the Hainan Consumer Goods Expo, and the ASEAN Expo, paving the "red carpet" for exhibits and steadily showcasing Central and Eastern European craftsmanship under China's spotlight.

The foundation of the praised "intricate fusion of Czech crystal craftsmanship with the graceful natural aesthetics of China's crested ibis," as commended by the Czech Consul General in Shanghai, lies in this "endless passage."

Quietly, changes emerge on the desk of the Prague workshop: Oriental auspicious cloud patterns and Bohemian designs elegantly coincide. Several days ago, Xu Xuequn dispatched books like the "Illustrated Handbook of Chinese Classic Patterns" to the Czech factory. "The Pavilion has opened a gateway for us." "Cultural exchange is more than a one-way transmission," Xu Xuequn remarked.

The crested ibis soaring above the crystal symbolizes the boundless possibilities of a trader evolving into a "cultural translator" within the ecosystem of the national platform.

Relay: Wool warp and weft weave a new Silk Road

From the initial shearlings transported from Belgrade, Fang Shen seemed to perceive the aroma of the Danube's grassy fields. This raw wool is about to embark on a journey: facilitated by the Central and Eastern European Specialty Commodities Perennial Pavilion, it will be shipped to Chinese factories to be spun into thread, then returned to Serbian artisans to be crafted into scarves and shawls that adhere to oriental aesthetics, and ultimately displayed at his booth on the second floor. This closed-loop "Wool Silk Road" represents the solution Fang Shen discovered at the pavilion.

"Serbia possesses excellent wool, but what it lacks is the key to accessing markets." In 2023, Fang Shen settled in with the vision of "mutual benefit". Initially, imported ready-to-wear garments faced challenges of "adaptation."

This prompted him to adjust his "approach": "The Pavilion serves not only as a venue for exhibition and sales, but as a laboratory for 'deconstruction and reconstruction'." During a matchmaking meeting at the venue, he and his Serbian partners developed an innovative model: raw material imports—advanced processing in China—redistribution of semi-finished goods—Serbian refining—finished product re-importation to China. An initial order valued at 10,000 euros, after undergoing multiple cross-continental adjustments, ultimately became a bestseller.

The "trust framework" inherent in the Pavilion significantly reduced the costs associated with experimental attempts. The convergence of customs and trade experts simplified previously intricate customs clearance processes; frequent interactions with Serbian Chamber of Commerce representatives eliminated the high costs associated with independent exhibition participation.

The platform's "amplifier" effect became apparent: Fang Shen cited his participation in two "Hi Shopping in CEEC" voucher campaigns as examples. Government subsidies combined with wholesale pricing spurred a buying surge, enabling CEEC products to gain valuable market experience within China.

At the fourth China-CEEC Expo in May of this year, media captured compelling moments of him designing the exclusive mascots Sea Doll and Camel Doll for the expo and collaborating with a Serbian old friend, which unexpectedly opened the door for state-owned enterprise gift procurement for him. Currently, his shelves showcase partnerships with Shanghai K11 art buyers and designer stores in Osaka and Nagoya.

One scene spanning a decade. This exhibition venue has transcended the mere display of commodities, becoming a capsule of profound integration between China and CEEC. It illustrates the essential rationale of openness in the new era: commodities act as cultural ambassadors, and trade fosters trust-based agreements.

When Polish milk finds its way into Chinese kitchens, when the graceful Crested Ibis adorns Czech crystal, and when Serbian wool crafts Oriental attire-this compact space encapsulates the great era of seamless connectivity and interpersonal unity. It serves as both a "super window" introducing CEEC treasures to China and a "symbol of the era" of Ningbo courageously assuming national responsibilities and setting an exemplary chapter in cooperative initiatives between China and CEEC.

　　   

June 23, 2025, Front Page of Ningbo Daily (Special Working Team for Hosting the China-CEEC Customs Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation Dialogue)

 

 

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