China-CEEC cooperation sees steady development, important opportunities: commerce ministry

Economic and trade relations between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) have developed healthily and stably, presenting great opportunities for future cooperation, China's commerce ministry said on Friday.

China's trade with CEEC has grown at an average annual rate of 8.8 percent since 2012, while its import from the countries has grown at an average annual rate of 7.4 percent, both outpacing the growth rate of China's foreign trade during the same period, Yan Dong, deputy head of the ministry told a press conference.

In 2024, China's trade with CEEC increased by 6.3 percent year on year, reaching a record high of $142.3 billion, data from the ministry shows.

Meanwhile, the two sides also saw more and more robust investment activities, Yan said, adding that China's investment in the countries has exceeded $24 billion so far.

A new highlight of China-CEEC investment cooperation has emerged in recent years as Chinese enterprises from the industrial chains of electric vehicles and power batteries intensified their efforts in investigation and investment in the CEEC, he noted.

In the future, there will be important opportunities for China-CEEC cooperation, with China's efforts to comprehensively deepen high-level opening-up, as well as the establishment of various economic and trade platforms safeguarding bilateral cooperation, according to Yan.

The complementarity between China and CEEC in the sectors of industry, trade of goods and services trade also provides new space for cooperation, Yan added.

The 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair will be held in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang Province from May 22 to May 25 this year. The event is expected to be one of the main platforms for showcasing the characteristic products of CEEC, expanding imports from CEEC, and promoting mutual investment between China and the countries, according to the ministry.