China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) will continue to deepen their cooperation in a wide range of areas, a senior Chinese official said on Tuesday.
Wang Yong, vice chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the 3rd China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair in Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang Province.
The expo, which kicked off on Tuesday, is a major event for businesses from China and CEEC to connect and explore business opportunities.
In his opening remarks, Wang said that China-CEEC economic and trade cooperation has yielded fruitful results in recent years.
He said that China will continue to uphold the principles of consultation, benefit sharing, openness and inclusiveness, and innovation in its cooperation with CEEC countries.
Wang also said that China will continue to promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative to constantly unleash the potential of China-CEEC cooperation.
He added that China hopes to work with CEEC countries to boost pragmatic cooperation and sail steadily into the future.
Wang also attended the opening ceremony of the 7th meeting of the China-CEEC Council on Monday afternoon. He said he hopes the council will keep playing its role as a bridge and make positive contributions to promoting friendly exchanges and deepening cooperation between the two sides.
The China-CEEC cooperation mechanism was launched in 2012. It is a platform for China and CEEC countries to discuss and deepen cooperation in a wide range of areas, including trade, investment, infrastructure, culture, and education.
The cooperation mechanism has been highly successful in promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and CEEC countries. In 2022, the total trade volume between China and CEEC countries reached $140 billion, up 23% year-on-year.
The cooperation mechanism has also helped to promote people-to-people exchanges between China and CEEC countries. In 2022, there were over 10 million visits between the two sides.
The China-CEEC cooperation mechanism is a win-win partnership that has benefited both sides. It is a model for regional cooperation and a valuable asset for the global community.
