China-Central and Eastern Europe cooperation moves forward in depth
Our reporter Yu Jindong, correspondent Shan Yu Zifeng
On June 8, the second China-CEEC Expo with the theme of "Building a New Pattern and Sharing New Opportunities" opened in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. Guests and companies from many countries in Central and Eastern Europe gathered together.
Deepen cooperation and seek common development
On the afternoon of June 8th, the live broadcast event for diplomats from Central and Eastern European countries, hosted by the Ningbo Municipal Government and co-organized by the Yinzhou District Government, officially opened.
Diplomats from Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Latvia, and Poland appeared in the official live broadcast room of the China-CEEC Expo to "call" the good goods platform in their hometown and promote local customs.
"Thank you for China's support to Serbian exporters. We will not miss the China-CEEC Expo, a valuable platform to explore the Chinese market." Serbian President Vucic, the leader of the guest country of the Expo, said in a video speech that Serbia is Actively participate in the construction of smart cities, which represents a new direction for cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries.
Statistics show that in 2020, the volume of trade in goods between China and Central and Eastern European countries will exceed US$100 billion for the first time, and will grow by 8.4% despite the impact of the epidemic.
In the first quarter of this year, China’s imports from Central and Eastern European countries amounted to US$8.17 billion, a year-on-year increase of 44.7%.
From January to April this year, Ningbo's import and export volume with Central and Eastern European countries was 11.96 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 48.8%.
Among them, imports amounted to 2.69 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 241.2%.
"I am a'veteran' of cooperation activities between China and Central and Eastern Europe. I have participated in 6 activities." Bo Lan, Consul General of the Hungarian Consulate General in Shanghai, said that in 2020, China will become Hungary's largest investor country for the first time.
This made Bo Lan sighed with emotion.
"The relationship between Hungary and China is very friendly. Half a month ago, Ningbo opened a direct cargo route to Budapest, Hungary. Up to now, the two countries have 5 direct flights and 2 direct cargo routes."
Regarding the next step of cooperation, Bo Lan said: "Every country wants to become an economic hub, cultural hub, and investment hub. But I would like to use another word-oasis. What is the biggest difference between a hub and an oasis? Green is the color of the future. Oasis also represents prosperity and security. Welcome to the Oasis of the “Belt and Road”, the oasis of Europe."
Expand opening to achieve a win-win situation
In the past few days, the two white sofas set up in the Polish National Pavilion in Hall 6 and originally prepared for business negotiations have almost become the "private living room" of You Delian, the chief representative of the Polish Investment and Trade Bureau in China.
People who come and go, whether they are the reporters who "explored the museum" in advance or the importers who come to the exhibition, love to come here to sit and chat with this "old Polish friend" and reminisce about the past.
"Going back to Ningbo every year is like going home to visit relatives!"
The word "Hui" makes people feel more cordial.
Today, You Deliang has long been accustomed to entering "Ningbo Time" every June as scheduled.
This is an agreement that lasted for 7 years.
In 2014, Ningbo hosted the first Central and Eastern Europe Special Commodity Exhibition.
At that time, You Deliang took office soon.
Through his multi-party coordination, more than 30 Polish companies went to Ningbo to "go to the market."
At that time, a total of 180 companies from Central and Eastern European countries participated in the exhibition, and the 200 booths stirred up the "first experience of love" between Ningbo and Central and Eastern Europe.
Nowadays, it is still a Ningbo agreement, the number of booths has become 3,003, and the exhibition has long been upgraded to the only national-level mechanism exhibition in China for Central and Eastern Europe.
"Looking for long-term partners, looking for large agents and distributors across the country and even in the region is the main purpose of Polish exhibitors." In You Deliang's view, the primary function of the expo is to enhance the Chinese market's understanding of Central and Eastern European products.
Over the years, as the interconnection between the two parties has continued to advance, Polish cosmetics and household products have become more and more familiar to Chinese consumers.
You Deliang said that the Chinese market has shown strong purchasing power, and the prospects for cooperation between China and Poland are exciting.
Foreign companies have benefited a lot, but why not Chinese local companies?
"An obvious feeling is that from 2020, orders from Central and Eastern European countries have increased rapidly, and it is now our third largest source of buyers." said Lei Yanzhao, general manager of Ningbo Xinnuo Adhesive Tape Co., Ltd.
Ningbo Xinnuo's main product is rubber industrial belts, and its main application scenarios are the operation sites of mines and quarries.
Before 2020, the company's main markets are concentrated in Southeast Asia, South America and other places.
Starting from March 2020, buyers from Central and Eastern European countries have gradually increased.
“The one who impressed me the most was a buyer from Romania. He was a mining dealer in Pitesti, a southern Romanian city, and he also purchased infrastructure tools and facilities for dozens of mines. In March last year, he approached us and ordered a batch of At that time, only a small order of 15,000 US dollars was placed for rubber industrial belts, but when I came back to purchase in February this year, the order amount had already exceeded 220,000 US dollars." Lei Yanzhao said.
Nowadays, what this "old friend of Poland" loves most is to imagine a bright future: maybe one day, many Chinese people start their day like this-in the morning, wake up from a bed covered with a Polish goose down quilt, and then fall down. Put on a glass of Polish milk, put on Polish beeswax, and put on a beautiful makeup with Polish cosmetics...
Tap the potential and move forward hand in hand
In recent years, under the promotion of the cooperation mechanism between China and Central and Eastern European countries, the cooperation between China and the Czech Republic in the field of economy and trade has been further deepened.
The Czech ambassador to China Tong Fude expressed the hope that the two sides can further utilize their complementary advantages, continue to tap the cooperation potential, and actively carry out mutually beneficial cooperation.
For example, the current global digital transformation has brought new opportunities for China-Central and Eastern Europe cooperation.
According to the results of the EU's intelligent analysis and evaluation, only Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Estonia among the Central and Eastern European countries reach the EU average.
In response to this situation, countries have increased their support in the high-tech field.
For example, Estonia has issued a national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, which focuses on the construction of various social sectors and AI applications and related legal systems.
The Czech Republic and Croatia focus on digital construction and strive to build a truly smart economy and smart society.
In May 2019, the Czech government approved the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and is committed to making the Czech Republic a model country for AI applications in Europe.
In terms of logistics and cross-border e-commerce, since the outbreak of the epidemic, emerging markets represented by Central and Eastern European countries have sprung up and become the fastest-growing regions.
In 2020, the number of new online stores in the Czech Republic was 2,900, a year-on-year increase of 6%, bringing the total to 49,500.
Serbia's e-commerce has increased by 100% during the entire epidemic, and online income of SMEs has increased by 20% to 30%.
“China’s advantages in e-commerce, especially logistics, are unquestionable.” A participant smiled and talked about an interesting event: On the morning of June 9, a colleague of his was preparing to participate in another forum in Ningbo, near 9 It was only when I found out that I didn't wear a tie.
This colleague immediately placed an order on his mobile phone, and the tie was delivered to the venue on time during the 10 o'clock tea break.
"China's advantages in e-commerce and logistics are very obvious. Chinese e-commerce and logistics companies have a lot to do in Central and Eastern European countries." The guest said.
Our reporter Yu Jindong, correspondent Shan Yuzifeng