The 4th China Central and Eastern European Countries Expo and International Consumer Goods Expo, with the theme of "New, Real, and Future", will be held from May 22 to 25 in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, jointly organized by the Zhejiang Provincial People's Government and the Ministry of Commerce. The State Council Information Office held a press conference on May 9th to introduce the relevant situation. On May 9th, the State Council Information Office held a press conference in Beijing. Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong, Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province Lu Shan, Mayor of Ningbo Tang Feifan, and Director of the European Department of the Ministry of Commerce Yu Yuantang introduced the economic and trade cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, as well as the Fourth China Central and Eastern European Countries Expo and International Consumer Goods Expo, and answered questions from reporters. Xinhua News Agency reporter Pan Xu, Deputy Minister of Commerce Yan Dong, introduced that since 2012, China's trade with Central and Eastern European countries has grown at an average annual rate of 8.8%, and China's imports from Central and Eastern European countries have grown at an average annual rate of 7.4%, both higher than China's foreign trade growth rate during the same period. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume reached a historic high of 142.3 billion US dollars, with a year-on-year increase of 6.3%. According to incomplete statistics, China's investment in Central and Eastern European countries has exceeded 24 billion US dollars so far. To hold this expo to high standards, create a main platform for showcasing Central and Eastern European characteristic products, expanding imports from Central and Eastern Europe, and promoting mutual investment between China and Central and Eastern European countries, and promote high-quality development of economic and trade cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries. ”Yan Dong said. Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province, Lu Shan, said that this year's Expo has stronger Central and Eastern European characteristics, more refined activity arrangements, and higher international participation. The exhibition area, number of exhibitors, and quantity of exhibited goods have all reached new highs. ”Lu Shan said that the Central and Eastern European exhibition area of this year's expo covers an area of 20000 square meters, inviting more than 400 exhibitors to participate. More than 8000 types of Central and Eastern European specialty products, such as Czech beer, Slovenian honey, and Hungarian down products, will be showcased together. It is expected to attract 15000 professional visitors to the expo, including over 3000 overseas buyers. For the first time, this expo will establish a Charm Central and Eastern European Zone, divided into five modules: "Book, Art, Painting, Printing, and Tourism", showcasing the cultural customs of Central and Eastern European countries. This expo will be jointly hosted by Slovenia and Slovakia as guest countries. Ningbo Mayor Tang Feifan introduced that Slovenia's green technology and cultural and sports industries are relatively developed. Its national pavilion takes "green, innovation, and intelligence" as the main line, and sets up five characteristic blocks including green ecology, food tasting, and low altitude economy. Slovakia is renowned for its innovative economy and cultural industries, with its national pavilion featuring sections on cultural crafts, alcoholic beverages, cuisine, and smart transportation. In addition, activities such as Slovenian port cooperation docking, low altitude economic industry sharing, and Slovak navigation project promotion will be held to promote more trade orders and investment intentions with the host country. It is reported that the overall arrangement of the event can be summarized as "11+4+N", achieving expansion to "Central and Eastern Europe+". 11 "is a key event including the opening ceremony, procurement of goods from Central and Eastern Europe, and investment promotion; '4' refers to four institutional activities, namely the 9th Conference of the China Central and Eastern European Countries Joint Chamber of Commerce, the 7th Customs Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation Dialogue, the Mayor's Forum, and the Central and Eastern European International Sailing Race; 'N' refers to hosting over 50 industry and country specific matchmaking events. In addition to exhibitors from 14 Central and Eastern European countries, this year also attracted exhibitors from 9 countries including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, with 8 countries exhibiting for the first time. In addition, international organizations such as the World Bank, international business associations such as the European Chamber of Commerce in China, and internationally renowned companies such as Sanofi, Novartis, and Morgan Stanley were invited to attend the conference. The cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries conforms to the trend of globalization, and the basic foundation of cooperation between the two sides is stable and the prospects are promising. ”Yan Dong stated that China has a complete industrial system and innovative technologies, and Central and Eastern European countries have obvious advantages in traditional industrial fields. There is a strong demand for green and digital transformation, and the industries of both sides complement each other. The future economic and trade cooperation space between the two sides is very broad. China attaches great importance to developing economic and trade relations with Central and Eastern European countries. The Ministry of Commerce is willing to work with Central and Eastern European countries to expand cooperation areas, tap into cooperation potential, and jointly create a mutually beneficial and win-win economic and trade cooperation pattern. ”Yu Yuantang, Director of the European Department of the Ministry of Commerce, said that policy communication will be strengthened, imports from Central and Eastern European countries will be expanded, and investment cooperation will be deepened. Yu Yuantang introduced that last month, the Ministry of Commerce held a bilateral trade and investment docking meeting in Hungary, and the enterprises of both sides achieved multiple economic and trade cooperation results. We will continue to organize economic and trade promotion teams to hold trade and investment docking activities in Central and Eastern Europe. We welcome more enterprises from Central and Eastern European countries to participate in key exhibitions and expos such as the China International Import Expo, Consumer Expo, and Central and Eastern European Expo in China, to enhance the visibility of Central and Eastern European products in China and expand sales channels. We are willing to consolidate the existing cooperation foundation and jointly explore investment cooperation opportunities in emerging fields such as digital, green, and artificial intelligence with Central and Eastern European countries. We will continue to encourage capable and willing enterprises to invest in Central and Eastern Europe in accordance with market-oriented principles. (New Society)