Highlights of the 4th China-CEEC Expo
Issue Date：2025-05-13 Source：Xinhua net
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, May 9: Highlights of the 4th China-CEEC Expo
Xinhua News Agency reporters Xie Xiyao, Zhang Xiaojie, Wei Donghua
The 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair with the theme of "Embracing Innovation, Advancing Practical Cooperation, and Shaping the Future" will be held in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province from May 22 to 25. It is co-organized by the People's Government of Zhejiang Province and the Ministry of Commerce. The State Council Information Office held a press conference on May 9 to introduce the relevant situation.
On May 9, the State Council Information Office held a press conference in Beijing. Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong, Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province Lu Shan, Mayor of Ningbo Tang Feifan, and Director-General of the Department of European Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce Yu Yuantang attended the press conference. They introduced China's economic and trade cooperation with CEECs and the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair, and answered questions from reporters. Photo by Pan Xu, reporter from Xinhua News Agency
Yan Dong, Vice Minister of Commerce, introduced that since 2012, China's trade with Central and Eastern European countries has grown by an average of 8.8% per year, and China's imports from Central and Eastern European countries have grown by an average of 7.4% per year, both higher than the growth rate of China's foreign trade during the same period. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume reached USD 142.3 billion, a record high and up 6.3% year-on-year. According to incomplete statistics, China's investment in Central and Eastern European countries has exceeded USD 24 billion so far.
"We will hold this Expo with high standards, create a main platform for displaying characteristic products of Central and Eastern Europe, expanding imports from Central and Eastern Europe, and promoting mutual investment between China and Central and Eastern European countries, and promote the high-quality development of economic and trade cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries." Yan Dong said.
The Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province Lu Shan said that this Expo has stronger Central and Eastern European characteristics, more sophisticated event arrangements, and higher international participation.
"The exhibition area, number of exhibitors, and number of exhibited goods have all set new highs." Lu Shan said. The Central and Eastern European exhibition area of this Expo has reached 20,000 square meters, and more than 400 exhibitors are invited to participate in the exhibition. More than 8,000 Central and Eastern European specialty products such as Czech beer, Slovenian honey, Hungarian down products, etc. will be unveiled in a concentrated manner. It is expected to attract 15,000 professional visitors, including more than 3,000 overseas buyers. This Expo will set up a Charming Central and Eastern Europe Zone for the first time, with 5 modules of "books, art, painting, printing, and travel" to display the cultural customs of CEECs.
Slovenia and Slovakia will serve as guest countries at this Expo. Mayor of Ningbo Tang Feifan introduced that Slovenia's green technology and cultural and sports industries are relatively developed. Its national pavilion takes "green, innovation and intelligence" as the main line and sets up 5 characteristic blocks such as green ecology, food tasting and low-altitude economy. Slovakia is famous for its innovative economy and cultural industry. Its national pavilion has blocks such as cultural crafts, wine and food, and smart travel. In addition, activities such as Slovenian port cooperation, low-altitude economy industry sharing and Slovak navigation project promotion will be held to promote more trade orders and investment intentions with the guest countries.
According to reports, the overall arrangement of the event can be summarized as "11+4+N" to achieve expansion to "Central and Eastern Europe+".
"11" refers to 11 key activities such as the opening ceremony, Central and Eastern European commodity procurement, and investment promotion; "4" refers to 4 mechanism-based activities, namely the Ninth Meeting of the China-CEEC Joint Chamber of Commerce, the 7th China-CEEC Dialogue on Customs, Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation, the Mayors Forum, and the China-Central and Eastern Europe International Regatta; "N" refers to more than 50 matchmaking activities by industry and country.
In addition to exhibitors from 14 Central and Eastern European countries, this year's expo also attracted exhibitors from 9 countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain and exhibitors from 8 countries are participating for the first time. In addition, the international organizations such as the World Bank, international business associations such as the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, and internationally renowned companies such as Sanofi, Novartis AG, and Morgan Stanley are invited to attend the Expo.
"The Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries conforms to the general trend of globalization, and the basic foundation of bilateral cooperation is stable and the prospects are promising." Yan Dong said that China has a complete industrial system and innovative technology, Central and Eastern European countries have obvious advantages in traditional industrial fields, strong demand for green and digital transformation, and the two sides complement each other's industries. There is a broad space for economic and trade cooperation between the two sides in the future.
"China attaches great importance to developing economic and trade relations with Central and Eastern European countries. The Ministry of Commerce is willing to work with Central and Eastern European countries to expand cooperation areas, tap cooperation potential, and jointly create a mutually beneficial and win-win economic and trade cooperation pattern." Yu Yuantang, Director-General of the Department of European Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce, said that policy communication will be strengthened, imports from Central and Eastern European countries will be expanded, and investment cooperation will be deepened.
Yu Yuantang introduced that last month, the Ministry of Commerce held a trade and investment matchmaking meeting between the two countries in Hungary, and enterprises from both sides reached a number of economic and trade cooperation results. We will continue to organize economic and trade promote team to Central and Eastern Europe to hold trade and investment matchmaking activities, welcome more enterprises from Central and Eastern European countries to come to China to participate in key exhibitions such as the CIIE, the International Consumer Goods Fair, and the China-CEEC Expo, enhance the popularity of Central and Eastern European products in China, and expand sales channels. We are willing to work with Central and Eastern European countries to explore investment and cooperation opportunities in emerging fields such as digital, green, and artificial intelligence on the basis of consolidating existing cooperation, and continue to encourage capable and willing enterprises to invest in Central and Eastern Europe based on the market principles.
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Xinhua net. The Xinhua net version shall prevail.