The Annual Trade Volume Surpassed USD 25.68 billion, Showcasing the Fruitful Achievements of Zhejiang’s Cooperation with Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC)

 

 

Photo Source: Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province

 

 

On the shores of the East China Sea, Asia and Europe are interconnected. As the east wind of the "Belt and Road" initiative sweeps across Zhijiang, Zhejiang's collaboration with Central and Eastern Europe is evolving from a trickle of "mutual engagement" into a surging tide of "national exemplar". The 4th China-CEEC Expo will take place in Ningbo, Zhejiang, from May 22 to 25, 2025, under the theme of "Innovation, Reality, and Future", offering a multi-dimensional platform for cooperation and exchange among all participants.

In 2024, the trade volume between Zhejiang and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) exceeded USD 25.68 billion, marking a year-on-year increase of 10%. In Zhejiang, data serves as a dynamic rhythm, case studies tell compelling stories, and every endeavor vividly illustrates the concept of a "shared destiny community".

Economic and Trade Synergy: Projects Demonstrating the Core Strength of "Mutual Engagement"

Though numbers are silent, they eloquently convey the profound connection between mountains and seas.

During the first three China-CEEC Expos, merchants transformed into investors and buyers into traders. Projects such as Hungary's Quantum Cement, Slovenian ski equipment, Romania's eMAG Yangtze River Delta (Ningbo) Operation Center, and the European Consumer Goods Exhibition Experience Center were successfully signed and established through the platform of the China-CEEC Expo.

Now, as Zhejiang enters a new phase of building a "highly capable open powerhouse", this collaboration has evolved from single trade to comprehensive coordination across the entire industrial chain. In supermarkets in Bucharest, Romania, Zhejiang Qiyuan Robot Co., Ltd.'s intelligent commercial cleaning robots are revolutionizing the traditional cleaning industry with AI path-planning technology. This "Made in China" innovation, equipped with millimeter-level laser navigation, can autonomously learn user habits and optimize cleaning routes, earning recognition among CEE merchants as a "game-changing technology". Meanwhile, the aromatic scent of Gdansk flour from Poland is making its way from Ningbo Bonded Area to high-end bakeries nationwide. HaishuXingshuo Food discovered this "treasure" at the 3rd China-CEEC Expo, with its import volume surpassing 60 tons within just six months.

Serbian meadow honey, Hungarian noble rot wine, Bulgarian rose products... An increasing number of high-quality products from Central and Eastern Europe are leveraging the China-CEEC Expo as a hub to accelerate their entry into the Chinese market.

 

 

Photo provided by the Provincial Department of Commerce

 

 

Innovation Resonance: From the "First Stop Experimental Ground" to the "Global Collaboration Network"

Technology knows no boundaries, and innovation is the optimal path to transcend geographical barriers. In Zhejiang's blueprint for becoming a high-level open and strong province, this "two-way innovation relay" is reshaping the rules of global industrial collaboration.

At the Ningbo Science Exploration Center, the Hungarian VR Park project successfully implemented "large-scale interactive technology" in China within just three months. Moving forward, it will also explore new "VR+AI” business models, enabling technological advancements to radiate from Zhejiang across the entire country. In Liaoning and Jiangsu, the "Shark" aircraft equipped with Czech aviation technology has been delivered for use, while the "Sky Dream" of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has found its foothold in China through Zhejiang.

A broader collaborative network is taking shape. Ningbo Rollmax Door and Window Accessories has successfully tapped into the Central and Eastern European (CEE) market, boosting exports to this region to account for one-third of the company's total business. Meanwhile, BYD Motors' Hungary plant is set to commence operations by the end of the year, with an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles, jointly forging the "European footprint" of new energy vehicles alongside Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL).

Ecological Integration: From "Visible Corridors" to "Seamless Connectivity".

Logistics serves as the lifeline, ensuring smooth policy implementation. Ningbo Zhoushan Port maintains direct shipping routes with five ports in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), while the "China-Europe Express (CEX)" establishes connectivity between Asia and Europe within 30 days. Additionally, Ningbo Airport has launched intercontinental flights directly to Budapest, creating an "Air Silk Road", and customs' "One-Stop Customs Clearance Service for CEE" facilitates swift clearance of goods.

Traffic acts as the wings, and culture forms the soul. On domestic video platforms, the "Serbia National Pavilion" account has garnered over 710,000 followers, with non-stop live-stream shopping events; on Tmall's "CEE Import Boutique Pavilion", Czech beer and Slovak grape juice have become bestsellers; meanwhile, Romania's leading e-commerce platform, eMAG, has established a presence in Ningbo.

At this new juncture of building a high-level open powerhouse, Zhejiang is writing a new chapter of openness through deepened reforms—eastward, Ningbo Zhoushan Port leads the world in throughput; westward, the "golden channel" links the heartlands of Asia and Europe; upward, innovation-driven strategies break down industrial boundaries; downward, ecological integration strengthens the foundation for collaboration. As the "shopping cart" crosses the Ural Mountains and containers unload Eastern aspirations along the Danube River, Zhejiang’s presence will undoubtedly shine brightly in the grand tapestry of the modern Silk Road.

From May 22 to 25, the 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair will open in Ningbo, Zhejiang. From exhibitions to conferences, from economic and trade negotiations to investment promotion, and from cultural exchanges to events hosted by the guest country of honor and theme provinces, this national-level exhibition will showcase the achievements of cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries from multiple perspectives while exploring comprehensive opportunities for collaboration. The East China Sea surges with vitality as Asia and Europe converge in shared time; boundless cooperation heralds a promising future.

 

 

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          Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Tide News. The Tide News version shall prevail.