The first China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair was held in 
Ningbo, China from June 8th to 12th. Delegates from Slovakia, Lithuania, 
Croatia, and other CEEC (Central & Eastern European Countries) participated in 
the Expo. Over 2,000 domestic and overseas guests attended the Expo, including 
government officials, international organizations, multinational corporations, 
research institutions, exhibitors and investors.

Compared with previous years, products and services displayed in the Fair were 
of greater diversity and quantity. Besides featured foods and daily consumer 
goods, high-tech products including gliders, helicopters, automobiles and smart 
machines were displayed this year. Over 3,500 buyers and investors from all 
over the world shuttled back and forth between booths, introducing their 
products and inquiring about the price and quality. Deals were frequently made.

It was the first year since the China-CEEC Expo has been upgraded to a national 
level. Besides the Goods Fair, main activities of the Expo included the 
China-CEEC Cooperation Forum, the International Consumer Goods Fair, the 5th 
China-CEEC Investment Cooperation Meeting, the 4th China-CEEC Customs 
Inspection and Quarantine Dialogue, and the 6th China-CEEC Business Association 
Cooperation Conference. Following the principle of "Consultation, Contribution 
and Shared Benefits", guests had extensive discussions on issues such as the 
BRI long term growth, investment and cooperation, trade facilitation, and 
imports expansion.

Recent years have witnessed Ningbo's efforts on building a "16+1" economic and 
trade cooperation zone. Ningbo has hosted the China-CEEC Investment and Trade 
Expo for four consecutive years. In 2017, the first China-CEEC economic and 
trade cooperation demonstration zone was launched in Ningbo. This year, Ningbo 
hosted the first China-CEEC Expo, demonstrating that Ningbo has opened 
China-CEEC economic and trade channels that have become a driver for Ningbo's 
contribution to China-CEEC cultural exchange and tourism cooperation. Based on 
the investment and trade Expo, Ningbo has held the China (Ningbo)-CEEC Tourism 
Cooperation Conference and the "Thousand-tourist visiting Central and Eastern 
Europe" travel activities for three consecutive years, continuing to deepen the 
multilateral cooperation between Ningbo, China and Central and Eastern Europe.

As the China-CEEC Expo becomes a golden business card for Ningbo, the city will 
further integrate its cultural tourism development into the BRI national 
strategy, and develop itself into an important platform for China to deepen 
cooperation with the rest of the world. 

SOURCE:  China-CEEC Expo