Relations with Central, Eastern European nations to grow

Participants at the 6th China and Central and Eastern European Countries Local Leaders' Meeting said the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism has promoted bilateral relations and collaboration between China and European countries, and they called for increased joint efforts to enhance the quality of life for citizens.

The two-day meeting which opened on Wednesday in Yantai, Shandong province, brought together over 300 participants from Central and Eastern European countries, including former officials, provincial and municipal leaders, diplomats, representatives from universities, research organizations and business associations.

Established in 2012, the cooperation mechanism between China and the CEEC has evolved into a trans-regional platform based on cooperation and shared development. Over more than a decade, it has fostered cooperation in diverse fields such as trade, culture, education, tourism and technology.

"Local exchanges are a crucial aspect of China-CEEC cooperation," Li Hongzhong, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, said at the meeting's opening ceremony.

He called for enhanced alignment of development strategies, improved mechanisms for local cooperation platforms, and a focus on practical cooperation in key areas to ensure the steady and far-reaching progress of China-CEEC cooperation.

In recent years, Shandong has expanded exchanges with provinces and states in Central and Eastern Europe in fields such as economic and trade relations, high-level visits, and cultural exchanges.

The province signed an agreement on Tuesday with the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia, to establish and develop friendly relations and cooperate on mutually beneficial issues.

"This agreement provides an opportunity for knowledge, experience, and resource exchange to enhance the quality of life for citizens through joint efforts," said Maja Gojkovic, governor of Vojvodina.

Gojkovic said Vojvodina has thus far signed cross-regional cooperation agreements with nine Chinese provinces including Jilin, Hunan, Henan, Guangdong, Hainan, Hebei, Fujian and Zhejiang, laying a solid foundation for future cooperation.

During the meeting, the China-CEEC Modern Agricultural Science and Education Innovation Alliance was established to encourage joint efforts on promoting cooperation and development in the agricultural sector. The alliance now includes participation from 64 domestic and foreign universities, research institutions and enterprises.

"The difference between the agricultures of China and the CEE countries is one of the prerequisites for cooperation and development in the sector," said Momchil Stanishev, director of the Association for the Promotion of Agricultural Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries.

He emphasized the need to address the issues of food security, evolving consumer preferences, increasing demand for higher-quality food, investments in farm productivity, and the adoption of new technologies.

"The alliance will further integrate education, technology, talent and resources from both sides, creating an efficient and stable platform for cooperation and exchange," said Liu Zhenjie, deputy head from the department of agriculture and rural affairs of Shandong province.

Shandong and CEEC have seen robust growth in economic and trade exchanges. In 2023, the total volume of imports and exports between Shandong and CEEC reached 51.55 billion yuan ($7.2 billion), a year-on-year increase of 18.6 percent. The average annual growth rate over the past five years has been around 18 percent.