On the afternoon of May 12, 2021, the Information Office of the State Council held a press conference on economic and trade cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries and the Second China Central and Eastern European Countries Expo. Assistant Minister of Commerce Ren Hongbin, Vice Governor Zhu Congjiu of Zhejiang Province, Mayor Qiu Dongyao of Ningbo City, and Vice President Zhang Shaogang of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade introduced relevant information on economic and trade cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries and the Second China Central and Eastern European Countries Expo and International Consumer Goods Expo, And answer the reporter’s questions.
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Ren Hongbin, Assistant Minister of Commerce:
Good afternoon, friends of the news media! First of all, I would like to thank all friends of the media for their long-term high attention to business work, and also thank you for your concern and support for economic and trade cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries. Today, I will take the initiative to release this report in two parts. First, I will introduce you the latest situation of economic and trade cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, and then I will talk about some information about the China-CEEC Expo.
The first part is that the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries is an important part of China-EU relations and an influential cross-regional cooperation platform. Since 2012, based on the principles of joint consultation and construction, pragmatism and balance, openness and inclusiveness, and innovation and progress, China Central and Eastern European countries have achieved fruitful results in cooperation. Especially since 2020, China Central and Eastern European countries have made significant progress in economic and trade cooperation to overcome the impact of the epidemic.
First, bilateral trade continued to grow. From 2012 to 2020, the average annual growth rate of trade between China and 17 countries in Central and Eastern Europe was 8%, more than twice the growth rate of trade between China and the EU. In 2020, the trade volume between China and 17 countries exceeded 100 billion US dollars for the first time, reaching 103.45 billion US dollars, an increase of 8.4% year on year, which can be described as a countertrend growth. In the first quarter of this year, the trade volume between China and 17 countries reached US $30.13 billion, up 50.2% year on year, 11 percentage points higher than the growth rate of China’s foreign trade in the same period. Among them, China’s imports from Central and Eastern European countries increased by 44.7%.
Second, investment cooperation is getting closer. According to statistics, the scale of two-way investment between China and Central and Eastern European countries has reached nearly 20 billion US dollars, involving auto parts, chemicals, household appliances, logistics, minerals, business cooperation and other fields. Under the epidemic, the enthusiasm for two-way investment has not diminished, and green and low-carbon, medical and health, and new energy are becoming new investment hotspots.
Third, infrastructure projects were steadily implemented. In 2020, Chinese enterprises signed engineering contracts in Central and Eastern European countries amounting to 5.4 billion US dollars, an increase of 34.6%. During the epidemic, the projects undertaken by the Chinese side, such as the Hunish-Serbia Railway, the Pelesaz Bridge in Croatia, and the priority section of the North-South Expressway in Montenegro, were steadily advanced. Chinese enterprises successfully signed new railway, highway, subway and other construction projects in Central and Eastern European countries.
Fourth, connectivity remained stable. The China-EU train has accelerated its development during the epidemic. It will run more than 12400 trains in 2020, an increase of 50% year on year. This is the China-EU two-way train, which has set up the “lifeline” of the China-EU fight against the epidemic. We also call it the “steel caravan”. Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia and other countries have become important channels and destinations for the China-Europe train. The construction of the China-Europe land and sea express line has been actively promoted. China has close logistics exchanges with the ports of Central and Eastern European countries. Zhengzhou, Shijiazhuang and other places have opened new scheduled cargo routes to cities in Central and Eastern Europe.
Today’s achievements in economic and trade cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries are the result of the concerted efforts of all countries and all parties. Let me talk about the China-CEEC Expo.
China – Central and Eastern European Countries Expo is the only national exhibition for Central and Eastern European countries in China. From June 8th to 12th this year, the second China Central and Eastern European Countries Expo and International Consumer Goods Expo will be held in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, with the theme of “Building a New Pattern and Sharing New Opportunities”. The Expo is co sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of China and the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province. Currently, various preparatory work is being actively promoted. Governor Zhu and Mayor Qiu will also give you a detailed introduction later.
This year is the first year of China’s “14th Five-Year Plan” and also the key year of the new journey of building a socialist modern country in an all-round way. This Expo is a concrete action for all parties to jointly implement the results of the China-CEEC Summit held in February this year, and promote the high-quality development of China-CEEC bilateral economic and trade cooperation. It is also a concrete action for China to base itself on the new stage of development, implement the new concept of development, and construct a new development pattern, An important measure to continue to promote high-level opening-up. The Expo will well display the high-quality products of Central and Eastern European countries, help to expand imports from Central and Eastern European countries, promote trade and investment cooperation between China and Europe, and also help to meet China’s expanding consumer market.
Next, we will work together with Central and Eastern European countries and relevant parties in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, and strive to hold a fair of high standards, high quality and high level. On behalf of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, I would like to invite all media friends to participate in the Expo at the same time, and hope that the media and journalists will continue to support and care about China’s economic and trade cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe. Thank you.
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Zhu Congjiu, Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province
Dear reporters, good afternoon! In the next five years, we will strive to import US $20 billion of goods from Central and Eastern European countries, achieve two-way investment of more than US $1.5 billion, and strive for an average annual growth of more than 30% in cross-border e-commerce trade with Central and Eastern European countries, and promote Zhejiang to become the central hub of China-CEEC cooperation, an important bridge for Central and Eastern European countries to enter the world market of China, and an important window for Central and Eastern European countries to comprehensively demonstrate the advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics.
Next, I will focus on the China-CEEC Expo. Just now, Assistant Minister Hongbin said that the China-CEEC Exposition is the only national-level institutional exhibition for Central and Eastern Europe. The second China-CEEC Exposition and International Consumer Goods Exposition, co-sponsored by the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province and the Ministry of Commerce and organized by the People’s Government of Ningbo, will be held in Ningbo from June 8 to 11 this year. The theme of this Expo is “building a new pattern and sharing new opportunities”. At the same time, we will also hold the 23rd China Zhejiang Investment and Trade Fair.
In terms of activities, the Expo has set up nearly 20 important activities in accordance with the principles of pragmatism, efficiency and simplification, and comprehensively promoted cooperation and docking with Central and Eastern European countries in various fields such as economy and trade, science and technology, health, business associations, etc. Among them, eight activities including the sixth meeting of the China-CEEC Chamber of Commerce are the specific implementation of the goals and tasks proposed by the leaders’ summit. At that time, a series of cooperation results will be released. For example, the “Silk Road E-commerce” Development Summit Forum will launch a dialogue mechanism for e-commerce cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, and release the “China E-commerce Report (2020)”. The “China Central and Eastern European Countries Local Cooperation High Quality Development High-end Think Tank Forum” will launch the “Central and Eastern European Countries Transportation Country Report (2021)” for the first time. The Global Health Industry Cooperation Conference will also officially launch the “China – Central and Eastern Europe Public Health Industry Alliance” proposed by the leaders’ summit, which are some of the key contents of this conference.
In terms of exhibitions, the Expo has set up three exhibition areas, namely, the Central and Eastern Europe Exhibition, the International Consumer Goods Exhibition and the Perennial Import Commodities Exhibition, with a total area of 200000 square meters. We expect that more than 2000 exhibitors and more than 6000 buyers from all over the country will sign up. We will make full use of the commodities and characteristic agricultural products of the hidden champions of Central and Eastern European countries, expand the import of relevant products, and promote the implementation of the import goals proposed at the Summit. For example, a number of high-tech products and projects, such as Wanfeng Aviation Aircraft imported from the Czech Republic, Bat Aircraft from Slovenia, the world’s leading laser micro-processing project in Lithuania, and the anti-reflective glass in Latvia with the lowest reflectivity in the world, will also be made public. European all-category household appliance group, Czech national treasure kitchen ware brand, Polish online red skin care brand, etc. will also participate in the exhibition. Representatives of 17 countries from Central and Eastern Europe, more than 30 envoys from other countries, and more than 20 other sister provinces and cities in China will participate in the Expo. Here, on behalf of Zhejiang Province, I also extend a sincere invitation to you and look forward to meeting you in Ningbo to jointly promote exchanges and cooperation in trade, investment and people-to-people and cultural aspects between China and Central and Eastern European countries. thank you.
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Qiu Dongyao, Mayor of Ningbo:
Friends of the press, according to the arrangement of the meeting, I will give you a brief report in two aspects.
First, the construction and promotion of China-CEEC economic and trade cooperation demonstration zone. In 2018, Ningbo launched the construction of the China-CEEC Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone, which has made positive progress with the joint efforts of all parties. According to the “17+1” cooperation performance evaluation index of local government participation released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Ningbo has won the first place in the country for two consecutive years.
First, major mechanisms have been continuously improved. The China-CEEC Investment and Trade Expo has been held in Ningbo for four consecutive sessions, and was upgraded to a national large-scale institutional foreign-related exhibition in 2019. At the same time, a number of institutional institutions such as the representative office of the China-CEEC Federation for the Promotion of Agricultural Cooperation, the Liaison Office of the United Chamber of Commerce, and the Customs Information Center were established in Ningbo.
The second is to accelerate the establishment of a platform for cooperation. It mainly includes “one pavilion, many parks”. “one pavilion” is the perennial exhibition hall of Central and Eastern European goods, and is the largest and most complete distribution center of bonded sales of Central and Eastern European goods in China. The exhibition area is 15000 square meters, and more than 4000 items of goods are displayed. “Multi park” includes the Central and Eastern European International Industrial Cooperation Park, Trade Logistics Park, Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, etc., providing support for deepening two-way cooperation and exchange.
Third, the scale of economic and trade continued to expand. By 2020, there will be more than 160 two-way investment projects between Ningbo and Central and Eastern Europe, with an investment of US $560 million, accounting for 5% of the two-way investment between China and Central and Eastern Europe. In the first quarter of this year, the import and export of Ningbo and Central and Eastern Europe reached 8.85 billion yuan, up 57.7% year on year, 16.7 percentage points higher than the national level.
Fourth, people-to-people and cultural exchanges have been steadily promoted. Ningbo has established friendly relations with 22 cities in 17 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, and has jointly built the Sofia Chinese Cultural Center with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China. Ningbo’s universities have also set up language and cultural centers in Poland and the Czech Republic. We have carried out more than 100 cooperation projects with 78 universities in Central and Eastern Europe.
Fourth, people-to-people and cultural exchanges have been steadily promoted. Ningbo has established friendly relations with 22 cities in 17 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, and has jointly built the Sofia Chinese Cultural Center with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China. Ningbo’s universities have also set up language and cultural centers in Poland and the Czech Republic. We have carried out more than 100 cooperation projects with 78 universities in Central and Eastern Europe.
Second, the relevant safeguard work of the Second China-CEEC Expo and the International Consumer Goods Expo. Just now, Assistant Minister Ren Hongbin and our Deputy Governor Zhu Congjiu have briefed you about the exhibition. I would like to make a report on the relevant security work of Ningbo as the host city.
From June 8 to 11, the second China-CEEC Expo and International Consumer Goods Expo will be held in Ningbo. In the early stage, according to the work requirements of the Ministry of Commerce and the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee and Government, we promoted the preparation and guarantee work with high quality.
First, strengthen epidemic prevention and control. Strictly implement the “external prevention of import and internal prevention of rebound”, focus on the venues, hotels, ports and other key points, improve the epidemic prevention plan and emergency plan, strictly implement the epidemic prevention regulations for the overseas exhibition commodities, and do a good job in vaccination of staff.
The second is to strengthen the attraction docking. 500 exhibitors have been attracted, of which 30% are domestic general agents. We have held roadshows in 11 key cities across the country, held 20 seminars online, and issued procurement policies to promote more transactions.
Third, strengthen service guarantee. We have refined the reception service plan, done a good job in the relevant transportation organization, and combined with the establishment of the National Civilized Model City, Ningbo has been awarded the title of the National Civilized City for six consecutive times. Now, according to the advocacy of the National Civilized Office, we are building the National Civilized Model City. At the same time, we should pay attention to the transformation of the road network and the beautification of the city to create a comfortable environment for the exhibition. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely invite friends from the press here to visit Ningbo to have a better understanding of Ningbo. We welcome you here.
[Answer the reporter’s question]
Reporter: Expanding exports to China and promoting trade balance are issues of general focus for Central and Eastern European countries. What will be the key cooperation between the two sides in the field of trade in the next step, and what ways will we expand imports in the future?
As you all know, China has a long history of trade with Central and Eastern European countries, but due to the different product structures and development stages of both countries, China has maintained a trade surplus with many Central and Eastern European countries. However, the Chinese government attaches great importance to promoting trade balance and has taken many effective measures and measures. It should be said that China’s imports from Central and Eastern European countries have increased year by year. I just gave you a set of data. From 2012 to 2020, bilateral trade grew by 8% annually. But please note that our imports from Central and Eastern European countries grew by 9.1% annually, and exports grew by 7.6% annually. The gradual expansion of imports is inseparable from the trade measures we have taken and the joint efforts of both sides.
In the new situation, in order to implement the goals put forward by the leaders of the two sides at the summit, we will give full play to China and Central and Eastern European Countries Expo and China International Import Expo and other exhibition platforms, innovate work measures, expand imports in more ways, and promote trade balance. There are mainly measures in these aspects.
First of all, we should strengthen the platform role of the Expo so that Chinese enterprises and consumers can better understand the characteristic products of Central and Eastern Europe. Up to now, about 300 enterprises from 17 countries in Central and Eastern Europe have registered to participate in the Expo. The commodities involved in the Expo include light aircraft, automobiles, medical devices, winter sports, daily chemical products, agricultural products, food and other products, as well as the commodities from the unique Central and Eastern European countries, providing rich choices for Chinese enterprises and consumers. Mayor Qiu has just introduced it to you in great detail. I won’t repeat it.
Second, we should make good use of the economic and trade cooperation mechanism and create a mutually beneficial and win-win policy environment. The Ministry of Commerce of China and 17 countries in Central and Eastern Europe have set up bilateral intergovernmental economic and trade joint committees, and expanding imports is also an important topic of the joint committee meeting. We have also established trade facilitation working groups, investment cooperation working groups and e-commerce working groups with some countries to strengthen the communication of trade policies, promote industrial exchanges, and promote the solution of 17 countries’ export demands to China, including agricultural products and food. According to statistics, more than 180 agricultural products and food products from Central and Eastern European countries have been admitted to the Chinese market. At present, many products are still being applied for. It should be said that the promotion efforts have been considerable in recent years.
Third, we should give full play to the advantages of cross-border e-commerce and explore new trade growth points. There is a certain foundation for e-commerce cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries. Many Central and Eastern European products have been registered on the platforms of well-known e-commerce companies such as Tmall, JD.com and Pinduoduoduo. Some characteristic products have also attracted the attention of Chinese consumers through live broadcast. During the Expo, the China-CEEC e-commerce cooperation dialogue mechanism will be officially launched, which will provide new assistance for CEE enterprises to achieve exports to China in a more convenient and efficient way. During the exhibition, many ambassadors to China took the initiative to live broadcast the goods themselves, and the effect was very good.
Fourth, we should encourage local governments to lead demonstration and promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. The Ministry of Commerce will continue to support the construction of China-CEEC economic and trade cooperation demonstration zones and industrial cooperation parks in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province and other places with high standards, further promote the facilitation of customs clearance, attract more CEE enterprises to invest in China, and deepen the integration of industries in the fields of automobile, digital, green and health.
Fifth, we should deepen China-EU connectivity and ensure smooth and orderly trade exchanges. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19, China Europe train has played a great role in unblocking logistics, and has become an important guarantee for trade cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries and strengthening international logistics. We will give full play to the comprehensive advantages of the train and focus on expanding the supply of return goods from Central and Eastern European countries. At present, the China-EU train involves 92 cities in 21 countries in Europe. The China-EU train has played a great role in unblocking China-EU trade. Especially since last year, in the special period of tight shipping capacity and rising freight rates, the China-EU train has indeed made a great contribution to China-EU trade cooperation. We will also actively promote the construction of major projects such as the China-EU Land and Sea Express, support the cooperation between Ningbo Port and ports of Central and Eastern European countries, encourage local hub airports to open regular cargo flights connecting cities in Central and Eastern Europe, and ensure the stable operation of the China-EU supply chain.
From January to March this year, according to customs statistics, China imported US $8.17 billion from 17 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, an increase of 44.7% year on year, making a good start and laying a good foundation for realizing the import of US $170 billion of goods from Central and Eastern European countries in the next five years. In the next step, the Ministry of Commerce will work with the relevant departments, together with the governments and enterprises of Central and Eastern European countries, to strengthen the research and evaluation of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and take multiple measures to provide guidance and services for expanding imports from Central and Eastern European countries and promoting trade balance.
Reporter: The first China Central and Eastern European Countries Expo was held in Ningbo in 2019. It has been two years since now, and the international and domestic situation has also undergone a series of changes in the past two years. What are the new features and highlights of this China Central and Eastern European Countries Expo compared to the previous one?
Zhu Congjiu: It is true that after the event in 2019, it was not held last year due to the epidemic. This year, there are still many new changes compared with 2019. There are three main aspects:
First, the leaders’ summit was held in February this year, so this Expo should be carried out in line with the various practical cooperation proposals put forward by the leaders’ summit. The second Expo is the first major international event with the theme of cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries held after the China-CEEC Summit. Therefore, the biggest feature is to closely follow the issues determined by the Summit and make a good landing. In order to fully complete the goals and tasks set by the Summit, we will make our contribution to Zhejiang. As I said just now, eight of the activities held at the Expo are the specific implementation of the work proposed by the Summit. The China-CEEC e-commerce cooperation dialogue mechanism and the public health industry alliance proposed in the Summit will be officially launched during the Expo. In addition, we will also launch the new route from Jinhua to Budapest for the first time during the Expo to promote the connection with the logistics facilities of Central and Eastern European countries.
Second, fully tap the import potential from Central and Eastern European countries. Just now, Assistant Minister Hongbin said that this is a very important task. Focusing on the import goals and tasks put forward by the leaders’ summit, we focused on giving full play to the agglomeration effect of the Expo, fully tapping the import potential, and set up a 15000 square meter Central and Eastern European Commodity Exhibition in the Ningbo Import Commodities Center, which gathered 17 countries, 28 commodity pavilions, and more than 4000 kinds of Central and Eastern European commodities. This is the most comprehensive, the most diverse, the most extensive, and the latest model of the Central and Eastern European Commodity Exhibition, At the same time, we are also guiding enterprises to establish a Central and Eastern European commodity procurement alliance to build a comprehensive service platform for the entire supply chain of consumers from the source to the Chinese market. We will also encourage financial institutions to develop personalized financial support policies and credit insurance policies for the import of goods from Central and Eastern Europe. In other words, we will play a platform role and strive to build Ningbo into a distribution center and an important hub for Central and Eastern European goods to enter the Chinese market.
Third, make a good plan of activities in the context of the epidemic, which is also a work that this year’s Expo attaches special importance to. While doing a good job in epidemic prevention, we will make full use of digital means to carry out international exchanges and make the Expo have the characteristics of the post-epidemic era. A series of activities, such as the high-end think-tank forum for high-quality development of local cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, have arranged online dialogues and screen to screen exchanges, and have made adequate software and hardware preparations for these activities. At the same time, we have also opened a cloud exhibition of imported goods, which includes 17 commodity pavilions in Central and Eastern Europe and a global commodity pavilion. More than 600 foreign exhibitors have been accommodated. Last year, during our Zhejiang Trade and Cooperation Conference, Ningbo tried to buy goods live broadcast by the ambassadors of Central and Eastern Europe. Just now, Assistant Minister Hongbin said this. The ambassadors were very active. Diplomats from ten countries came into the live broadcast room and shared activities such as Slovenian ski gear and Montenegrin red wine, and achieved good results. We will continue to carry out such activities this year.
Reporter: After more than three years of construction, the construction of the China-CEEC Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone has made some progress. What measures will be taken to further promote the construction of the demonstration zone?
Qiu Dongyao: When I reported to you just now, I have briefly introduced the progress of the construction of the demonstration zone. We should shoulder our responsibilities, strengthen our responsibilities, and promote the construction of China-CEEC economic and trade cooperation demonstration zone with high standards, high quality and high level. In general, we should do a good job in the construction of relevant demonstration areas from four aspects.
First, strengthen the standard guidance. Accelerate the formulation of the overall plan for the high-level construction of the Ningbo China-CEEC Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone, play a leading role in the planning, further enhance the brand of the China-CEEC Expo, accelerate the construction of the Central and Eastern European International Industrial Cooperation Park, build four centers of China-CEEC aviation logistics, economic and trade promotion, scientific and technological innovation, and cultural exchanges, and strive to become a two-way investment, digital cooperation Green development, institutional innovation and other leading cities.
Second, expand trade exchanges. We will transform and upgrade the perennial exhibition hall of Central and Eastern European commodities. As mentioned in the report just now, Ningbo has a year-round Central and Eastern European Commodity Import Hall, which is currently more than 15000 square meters. Next, we want to further improve and transform it. We will support leading enterprises to establish a procurement alliance for Central and Eastern European goods, build a comprehensive service platform for the entire supply chain of Central and Eastern European goods imports from the source to consumers in the Chinese market, innovate financial means, encourage financial institutions to develop personalized financial support policies and credit insurance policies for the import of Central and Eastern European goods, and further stimulate the vitality of the market.
Third, deepen industrial cooperation and give full play to the respective industrial advantages of Ningbo and Central and Eastern European countries. For example, Ningbo is mainly a competitive industry such as new materials and high-end equipment, while Central and Eastern Europe has advantageous industries such as hydrogen energy and lithium power batteries. It strengthens the support of innovation platforms such as the Central and Eastern European (Budapest) International Innovation Center and the Central and Eastern European (Ningbo) Innovation Base, and encourages private enterprises to carry out technology introduction and cross-border M&A cooperation with enterprises from Central and Eastern European countries, Build the Central and Eastern European International Industrial Cooperation Park into a representative cross-border industrial cooperation park.
Fourth, optimize the business environment. As a benchmark city for China’s business environment, Ningbo will speed up the construction of a digital 17+1 economic and trade promotion center and build an online comprehensive service platform, guided by digital reform. At the same time, strengthen the linkage between the demonstration zone and the free trade zone, superimpose the advantages of the China-CEEC customs information center and other mechanisms, innovate a number of facilitation measures, promote high-level institutional opening, and promote the stable and long-term cooperation with the Central and Eastern European countries with the first-class business environment. In short, we will roll up our sleeves and work hard to promote the construction of the China-CEEC Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone to achieve more landmark results, and make our due contribution to the international cooperation between China and Central and Eastern Europe. thank you.
Reporter: We have just held the first International Consumer Goods Expo and will hold the International Consumer Goods Expo in the second half of the year. What are the differences and characteristics of the upcoming International Consumer Expo in Ningbo?
Ren Hongbin: As you know, promoting consumption in an all-round way is an important part of forming a strong domestic market and building a new development pattern. The China – Central and Eastern European Countries Expo and the International Consumer Goods Expo, to be held by the Ministry of Commerce and the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province in June, is the only one in China that faces Central and Eastern Europe, while the China International Consumer Goods Expo, to be held in Hainan, is a consumer goods expo that faces the world. The two expositions are developed in a staggered way, one is regional, the other is global, and the structure of exhibitors is also different, The orientation of the exhibition is different. Of course, they are all facing the Chinese market. The whole Chinese market provides good opportunities for enterprises in various countries and regions around the world. During the exhibition, in addition to overseas brands from different countries, there are also a large number of domestic enterprises and domestic provincial and municipal product brands that need to compete on the same platform, with common ground.
Speaking of consumer goods exposition, in addition to these two, we may have to mention the China International Import Expo. In addition to trade in goods, the Import Expo also includes trade in services, as well as some consumer goods. I would like to say that in addition to these exhibitions with the theme of consumer goods in whole or in part, we also have many exhibitions for regional partners, such as China-Russia Expo, China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, China-Arab Countries Expo and other regional expositions. These consumer goods expositions are concrete measures and positive actions taken by the Chinese government to further expand the opening up to the outside world and actively open the market, creating more new opportunities for overseas enterprises to invest in China. Therefore, whether it is the Central and Eastern European Exposition or other expositions, the next step is to continuously improve the level of internationalization, marketization, specialization and informatization, and constantly improve the radiation and driving role of the exhibition, so as to provide better service opportunities for enterprises that invest and start business in China.
Reporter: It is understood that the sixth meeting of the China-CEEC Chamber of Commerce will also be held during the China-CEEC Expo. Can you introduce how to play the role of the China-CEEC Chamber of Commerce and better promote the cooperation between enterprises in China-CEEC countries?
Zhang Shaogang, Vice President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said that as China’s largest trade and investment promotion agency, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade has long adhered to the principle of friendly consultation and common development, and maintained very close contact with the business community of Central and Eastern European countries, especially the business associations. The United Chamber of Commerce is one of the important forms of cooperation. Let me give a brief introduction to the relevant situation of the United Chamber of Commerce, including the upcoming sixth meeting of the United Chamber of Commerce.
The China-CEEC Chamber of Commerce was established in 2014 and has held five meetings so far. It is an important part of the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism. According to the outcome of the 8th China-CEEC Leaders’ Meeting in 2019, the sixth meeting of the China-CEEC Joint Chamber of Commerce was originally scheduled to be held in April last year, but as we all know, due to the impact of the epidemic, we have consulted with the counterparts’ associations and decided to postpone it. In February of this year, the Beijing Action Plan for China-CEEC Cooperation in 2021 released by the China-CEEC Summit once again listed the sixth meeting of the United Chamber of Commerce as one of the important contents, fully reflecting the high importance and strong support of all parties to business cooperation, and also greatly boosting the confidence and determination of the business communities of China and CEEC countries to continue to expand practical cooperation in the context of the epidemic.
Compared with previous meetings, this meeting has the following characteristics and highlights:
First, the starting point is higher. This meeting is one of the important follow-up actions of the business community to implement the consensus of the China-CEEC Summit, and is committed to playing the role of the business association as a bridge and link to promote economic and trade exchanges and the main force of the business community to promote economic and trade cooperation.
Second, the scope is broader. Government departments, business associations and business representatives from Central and Eastern European countries will be extensively invited to attend the meeting, and many of them will go to Ningbo to attend offline activities.
Third, the form is updated. The meeting will be conducted in a combination of online and offline ways, including face-to-face communication and negotiation, remote connection and result display interaction.
Fourth, the content is more substantial. The conference adhered to the service enterprise orientation, focused on trade and financial services, cross-border e-commerce and other fields, organized about 300 Chinese and Central and Eastern European enterprises to conduct B2B negotiations and strive to reach a number of commercial cooperation intentions and projects.
Fifth, more results. The meeting will release the Ningbo initiative, plan the road map and timetable for business cooperation, and expand the circle of friends of the United Chamber of Commerce in an open and inclusive manner; Create a number of local cooperation brand projects with the idea of pioneering and innovation, and promote the quality and upgrading of local cooperation.
At present, there is almost a month to go before the meeting, which is very tight. In the next step, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade will work with all parties to make good preparations for the conference and make new contributions to economic and trade cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries. Thank you!
Reporter: Last year, the trade volume between China and 17 countries in Central and Eastern Europe exceeded 100 billion US dollars for the first time, which is higher than the growth rate of China’s foreign trade. What is the reason for the rapid development of China’s trade with Central and Eastern Europe in recent years? Which commodities account for a high proportion of China’s trade with Central and Eastern Europe?
Ren Hongbin: China and Central and Eastern European countries have achieved rapid growth in bilateral trade and investment in recent years. First of all, China and Central and Eastern European countries have a traditional history of friendly cooperation. As you all know, most countries in Central and Eastern Europe are among the first to establish diplomatic relations with New China, and both sides attach great importance to the development of economic and trade cooperation between each other. After China’s trade with Central and Eastern European countries changed from bookkeeping trade to cash exchange trade, especially after China’s entry into the WTO, the cooperation between the two sides in various fields has made rapid progress. In 2012, the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism was officially established, and bilateral trade entered a new stage of development. I have just given you several sets of data. The average annual growth rate is 8%, the average annual growth rate of exports is 7.6%, and the average annual growth rate of imports is 9.1%. In the first quarter of this year, the growth rate is more than 50%. This is based on the traditional friendship between the two sides, the attention of the two governments, and the strength of the enterprises of the two sides to expand the market. At the same time, it is particularly important that the industries of the two sides complement each other.
As mentioned just now, more than 70% of imports and exports are mechanical and electrical products. From this perspective, we can see the high level and quality of bilateral trade cooperation. Because mechanical and electrical products are of high added value and scientific and technological content, it also shows that trade between China and Central and Eastern European countries is gradually developing towards the high-end. As for the structure of the products, I would also like to make a report to you. China’s information and communication products, automatic data processing equipment, mobile phones, computers and attachment equipment, spare parts, cars and components, liquid crystal displays, as well as anti-epidemic materials, electronic equipment, household appliances and other products since last year are all our main export products. In the past, textiles and clothing should account for the majority of exports, but now the proportion is getting smaller and smaller, and electromechanical products are developing faster and faster.
At the same time, we import mechanical and electrical products such as automobiles and components, electrical equipment, converters, electronic control devices, and some metal copper materials from Central and Eastern European countries. Why are the products of China and Central and Eastern European countries complementary? 70% of the trade structure consists of mechanical and electrical products, including a large number of industrial intermediate products. This is also an important reason for the imbalance in trade between China and Central and Eastern European countries over the years. Our country has a strong manufacturing capacity, a complete range of industries, a high quality of labor, and a relatively low overall cost of production factors. At the same time, the overall per capita GDP of Central and Eastern European countries is about 15000 US dollars, and the consumption level is relatively high. We export a large number of spare parts and intermediate products to Central and Eastern European countries, while Central and Eastern European countries export industrial manufactured products to the Middle East, North Africa, Northern Europe and North-West Europe by taking advantage of their labor quality and processing capacity. The industrial structure and industrial chain of both sides are complementary. Therefore, from this perspective, bilateral economic and trade cooperation has broad prospects.
China and Central and Eastern European countries are important partners in jointly building the “the Belt and Road”. As I said just now, Central and Eastern European countries are also important countries along the “the Belt and Road”. Through their regional advantages, our products can be distributed to other European countries. Especially this time, we should earnestly implement the outcomes of the China-CEEC Summit and give full play to the potential of China’s huge market with a population of 1.4 billion. At the same time, we should connect the regional advantages of Central and Eastern European countries and regions, focus on the economic recovery after the epidemic, expand new fields on the basis of traditional cooperation fields, such as green, low-carbon, digital, health and other new fields and new business forms, and promote the transformation, upgrading and innovative development of bilateral trade and investment cooperation.
We should make good use of the Expo, the upcoming China-CEEC e-commerce cooperation dialogue mechanism, the Public Health Industry Alliance, the Ningbo China-CEEC Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone and other mechanisms and platforms to further promote the sustainable development of trade between China and Central and Eastern European countries and contribute to the global trade and economic recovery.
We should make good use of the Expo, the upcoming China-CEEC e-commerce cooperation dialogue mechanism, the Public Health Industry Alliance, the Ningbo China-CEEC Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone and other mechanisms and platforms to further promote the sustainable development of trade between China and Central and Eastern European countries and contribute to the global trade and economic recovery.
Ren Hongbin: After the outbreak of the COVID-19, China and Central and Eastern European countries have stood guard and helped each other to overcome the difficulties. They have actively cooperated in strengthening epidemic prevention and control, deepening vaccine cooperation, and promoting the resumption of work and production. The current global epidemic continues to spread, and economic recovery faces many challenges. In the next step, we will continue to work with Central and Eastern European countries to fight the epidemic and strengthen our confidence in cooperation, starting from the height of jointly building a community of human health
First, deepen vaccine cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries. China has taken the lead in vaccine cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries. Currently, Serbia, Hungary, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and other countries have purchased Chinese vaccines and started to vaccinate them. As you know, presidents and prime ministers of many countries have begun to vaccinate China. Last week, WHO has listed the vaccines of Chinese medicines in the list of emergency use. China supports Chinese enterprises and counterparts from Central and Eastern European countries to carry out vaccine research and development cooperation, smooth the supply chain of vaccines, and work together to help Europe and the world fight the epidemic.
Second, maintain the stability of the industrial chain and supply chain. As I mentioned just now, after the outbreak of the epidemic, Chinese enterprises and Central and Eastern European countries cooperated closely. We transported workers by chartered planes and a large number of production materials and equipment by the China-Europe train, which strongly supported the timely resumption of major projects in Central and Eastern European countries. The purpose is to minimize the losses caused by the epidemic to bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and strive to complete these projects as soon as possible and benefit the local people. Next, we will continue to work with Central and Eastern European countries to coordinate epidemic prevention and control and economic recovery, actively ensure the implementation of key projects, and maintain the stability of the industrial chain and supply chain.
Third, strengthen the docking of health industry. The COVID-19 has brought serious challenges to the life and health of people and economic and social development in Central and Eastern Europe, and has also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in the field of health. Cooperation in health services and other fields. We also hope that the establishment of this platform and the convening of the conference will further tighten the industrial cooperation ties between China and Central and Eastern European countries in the field of health and make positive efforts to build a community of human health.
(Forwarded to the website of the Information Office of the State Council)