City's initiatives aim to strengthen CEEC ties

Trade, cooperation and promoting mutual understanding are focuses of business-related events

Ningbo, a coastal city in Zhejiang province, will host the second China-Central and Eastern European Countries Ministerial Meeting on Promoting Trade and Economic Cooperation, as well as three trade events, from June 8 through 12 to strengthen business ties and communication with foreign markets.

The three events are the 18th China Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium, the 15th China International Consumer Goods Fair and the second China-CEEC Trade and Investment Expo.

"The three events will focus on promoting the Belt and Road Initiative and the Yangtze River Economic Belt development program," said Gang Yong, deputy chief of Ningbo Commission of Commerce. "We plan to organize a series of activities, including investment promotions, trade shows, and forums and cultural exchange programs to strengthen cooperation and mutual understanding."

China Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium will be an important platform for global economic experts and business leaders to exchange ideas on a range of issues, including the innovation-driven economy, Zhejiang's prospects during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) and how emerging industries will accelerate Zhejiang's industrial upgrade. There will be several themed forums for participants to exchange ideas on economic and business matters.

The 2016 China Zhejiang Investment White Paper will be released during the symposium to give investors more background information about the business environment in Zhejiang.

There will also be seven business matchmaking events from June 8 through 12. The events will promote the development of a range of sectors, including tourism, talent services, finance, regional development, expos and services for foreign companies, according to the organizers.

In addition to Ningbo, neighboring cities such as Zhoushan, Huzhou and Lishui will host symposiums based on their unique regional features. For instance, Ningbo will host a summit to promote global cooperation on the development of new-energy vehicles such as plug-in electric cars. Huzhou will host a cosmetics-related event.

The China International Consumer Goods Fair will feature 4,000 booths covering 100,000 square meters. Organizers said that the exhibition hall will be separated into five main areas, including zones for homeware and decoration, kitchen and bathroom products, import businesses, service trades, and small and medium-sized factories. There will also be a permanent exhibition area where imported goods will be displayed throughout the year.

More than 3,000 foreign traders from 52 countries and regions have confirmed their participation in the consumer goods fair, according to Gang.

The second China-CEEC Trade and Investment Expo will be held in Ningbo, and it is hoped that the expo will build on the success of last year's event.

The expo will feature a 4,400-square-meter demonstration zone for high-tech businesses from both China and CEEC countries. Companies will demonstrate their achievements and latest research in a number of sectors, including high-speed rail, new-energy vehicles, telecommunications and power generation.

The 2015 expo, held in Ningbo from June 8 through 12, attracted nearly 50,000 officials, exhibitors, experts and scholars from 93 countries and regions. A total of 185 business contracts and agreements were signed at the expo, according to the Ningbo government.

Hungary will be the featured country at this year's expo, and will organize a range of activities to showcase its culture, and achievements in trade and investments to court potential investors.

Other events

The Ningbo city government said there will be 12 other events to strengthen Sino-CEEC cooperation in a number of areas, including investment, trade exhibitions and forums and cultural exchanges.

For instance, the second China-CEEC Investment and Cooperation Seminar will take place during the China-CEEC Trade and Investment Expo, giving representatives from Central and Eastern European countries the opportunity to introduce to investors their respective business environments, policies and projects.

Business representatives from China and CEEC will gather at the third China Ningbo-CEEC Business Conference of Chamber of Commerce to discuss possible cooperation and collaborations during the expo period.

Trade promotion is one of the key purposes of this annual conference.

There will also be a 5,000-square-meter pavilion to display goods from 15 CEEC countries.

A cross-border e-commerce matchmaking event will also be held to help businesses find potential partners.

Air China will arrange charter flights from Budapest to Ningbo during the expo period for the convenience of both businesspeople and tourists.

Local authorities said that several cultural promotion events, including the China-CEEC Education Cooperation Meeting, will be held during the expo period.

Event organizers believe these activities will strengthen cooperation and promote information sharing and exchanges between China and CEEC countries in a range of areas, including education, technology and talent resources.

Government representatives from seven countries including Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia have confirmed they will attend the meeting.

There will also be a photography exhibition at the Ningbo International Exhibition Center to display CEEC countries' landscapes, food and culture during the expo period. The show will last after the event.

Local residents will be encouraged to take part in a range of cultural events to help them learn more about CEEC countries.