The 4th China-CEEC Investment and Trade Expo (China-CEEC Expo), in conjunction with the 20th China Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium (ZJITS) and the 17th China International Consumer Goods Fair (CICGF) came to a successful conclusion in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on June 11.

According to the organizing committee of the grand event, the expo successfully fulfilled its role as a powerful international platform for the exchanges and cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) over the five days.

The results outperformed people's expectations with a record-high number of participants, increased activities, an increasingly internationalized outlook and a strong impression left on those who attended.

Participants

More than 20,000 guests from home and abroad attended the event, including government officials from China and CEEC, 10,150 traders from 57 foreign countries and regions, business representatives from the world's leading companies and scholars from different sectors. The trading exhibitions attracted a total of 50,000 visitors to seek business opportunities.

Influence

This year, the China-CEEC Expo yielded a series of far-reaching results for the future development of China-CEEC ties and made a positive impact on the international stage.

At the Third Ministerial Conference of China and Central and Eastern European Countries on Promoting Trade and Economic Cooperation on June 7, four main results - a cooperation initiative on e-commerce, a cooperation initiative on trade in services, a communication mechanism for officials from both regions and the official inauguration of the 16+1 Economic and Trade Demonstration Zone - were achieved after wide and in-depth discussions.

Other conferences and forums, including the 3rd China-CEEC Dialogue on Customs Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation and the 2nd China and CEEC Mayors Forum also witnessed a lot of consensuses reached.

Investment and cooperation projects

Deals on hundreds of investment and cooperation projects were inked at the trade and investment symposiums of the event.

At the 4rd China-CEEC Investment and Cooperation Symposium, the two regions reached 117 agreements with an estimated investment of over €10 billion. Moreover, government agencies and companies from CEE had face-to-face talks with Chinese counterparts on cooperation opportunities.

Zhejiang province will introduce 232 projects worth 367.5 billion yuan ($57.4 billion) according to the agreements signed during the expo, including 71 foreign-funded ones.

Ningbo, the host city of China-CEEC Expo sessions signed agreements on 180 projects at the expo. These projects, with a total investment of over 230 billion yuan, are expected to propel the development of advanced industries in the city.

Apart from the projects, the expo also provided a platform for Zhejiang companies and overseas talents, aiming to give intellectual support to the province's development.

Trading exhibitions

The 5th CEEC Specialty Fair set up 310 booths for 257 companies and over 350 exhibitors from 16 CEEC. They displayed 15 major kinds of products at the fair, including wine, candies, cosmetics and crystal. Some 350 purchasers from around China talked to CEE businesspeople and reached purchasing agreements with them.

The CICGF had an exhibition area of 85,000 square meters with 3,050 booths this year. 1,063 companies from 12 countries and regions showcased 12,000 kinds of products in Ningbo, which successfully attracted purchasers from over 20 countries and regions.

Cultural exchanges

Talks on tourism, education and cultural industries achieved fruitful results at the expo.

More than 500 people from China and CEEC sought exchanges and cooperation during the 2018 China (Ningbo)-CEEC Tourism Week from June 6 to 10. The two sides jointly organized a gourmet festival and a music festival. Ningbo signed four agreements with CEEC on tourism.

In the sector of education, China and CEEC signed 17 cooperation agreements at the 5th China (Ningbo)-CEEC Forum for Education Cooperation.

The guest country of honor activities, Latvia, organized a series of talks and exhibitions across Ningbo, such as a food festival featuring special cuisines from CEEC and an art exhibition.

Publicity

The 2018 China-CEEC Expo drew the attention from a mass of media outlets, including People's Daily, Xinhua and China Central Television. Over 380 reporters from around the world covered the event and presented the activities from different angles. As of June 11, there had been 3,757 pieces of news published on media platforms.