[Commentary] On February 9, the China-CEEC Leaders Summit was held by video.
On the same day, Zhai Qian, Director of the European Department of the Ministry of Commerce, accepted an interview with reporters in Beijing to interpret the economic and trade initiatives and results of the summit.
[Commentary] Zhai Qian said that the China-CEEC Leaders Summit was held against the special background of the world’s efforts to combat the new crown epidemic, which is of great significance.
The summit proposed and reached a series of important cooperation initiatives, measures and results.
Among them, the content involving economic and trade cooperation is very rich.
[Concurrent] Zhai Qian, Director of the European Department of the Ministry of Commerce
In the next five years, China will import commodities worth more than US$170 billion from Central and Eastern European countries. It should be said that this goal is very pragmatic.
Central and Eastern European countries have comparative advantages in mechanical and electrical products, automobiles and parts, agricultural food products, textile products, and mineral raw materials.
China has a vast market and is promoting the upgrading of production and consumption. There is a lot of room for expanding imports from Central and Eastern Europe.
China is willing to use platforms such as the China International Import Expo and the China-CEEC Expo to actively expand imports from Central and Eastern European countries and promote balanced and sustainable development of bilateral trade.
[Commentary] Zhai Qian said that China and Central and Eastern European countries will strengthen local economic and trade cooperation, and use this as a starting point to promote practical cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries.
At the same time, the epidemic has brought development opportunities to e-commerce, and China and Central and Eastern European countries will also actively promote cooperation in new business formats.
[Concurrent] Zhai Qian, Director of the European Department of the Ministry of Commerce
At present, Ningbo is actively promoting the construction of a China-CEEC economic and trade cooperation demonstration zone, and Cangzhou is actively building a China-CEEC SME cooperation zone. These will provide useful explorations for both parties to deepen economic cycles, promote people-to-people bonds, and achieve innovative development; Central and Eastern European countries It generally attaches great importance to the development of e-commerce, and has carried out good cooperation with Chinese enterprises in cross-border e-commerce and overseas warehouses.
The summit proposed to promote the establishment of a China-CEEC dialogue mechanism for e-commerce cooperation, which will help all parties to strengthen dialogue and exchanges in the field of e-commerce, explore new cooperation models, and open up new channels for their respective economic development.
[Explanation] In addition, relevant business associations and enterprises in China and Central and Eastern European countries will also promote the establishment of a public health industry alliance.
Promote cooperation between the two parties in the fields of medical and public health.
[Concurrent] Zhai Qian, Director of the European Department of the Ministry of Commerce
The new crown epidemic is a common challenge facing all countries. China has exported a large amount of medical supplies to Central and Eastern European countries. Some Central and Eastern European countries are also actively considering purchasing Chinese vaccines to jointly fight the epidemic.
There are many "small and beautiful" enterprises in the fields of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment in Central and Eastern European countries.
In the future, through the Public Health Industry Alliance, the two parties will strengthen industrial policy exchanges, build industrial cooperation platforms, and promote cooperation in the fields of medical and public health.
[Explanation] As the outcome of the summit, the Ministry of Commerce recently signed a memorandum on investment cooperation and trade promotion with the counterparts of Albania, Serbia, Czech Republic, and Hungary to provide more exchanges and cooperation platforms for deepening China-CEEC economic and trade cooperation .
Zhai Qian said that in the future, the two sides will actively implement the aforementioned cooperation documents, strengthen policy exchanges in the field of trade and investment, jointly promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and promote the construction of an open world economy.
[Concurrent] Zhai Qian, Director of the European Department of the Ministry of Commerce
53 business cooperation agreements were included in the list of achievements at this summit, totaling nearly 13 billion U.S. dollars, involving infrastructure, energy, finance and many other fields.
This fully confirms the vigorous vitality of economic and trade cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries. It is believed that this will also greatly boost the confidence in cooperation between enterprises in China and Central and Eastern European countries and help Central and Eastern European countries achieve economic recovery as soon as possible.
Cheng Yu reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Zhang Kaixin]