Central and Eastern European countries enhance their economic and trade cooperation with China towards a "new" force

China has become synonymous with 'development, technology, and innovation', "said former Romanian Prime Minister Violica Denchle at the 7th China Central and Eastern European Countries Local Leaders Conference and 2026 Shandong International Friendship City Cooperation and Exchange Week held in Shandong recently.

This event attracted more than 600 guests from 44 countries and 15 provinces in China, and the attending representatives expressed their expectations for new opportunities for cooperation with China.

Former Swiss Federal President and Finance Minister Yuli Maurer stated that with the rapid development of artificial intelligence, innovation has become a key force driving the world forward. As an important innovation center in Europe, Switzerland should further strengthen innovation cooperation with China and jointly promote global sustainable and high-quality development.

We are optimistic about China's technological innovation, especially in the fields of renewable energy and energy storage. Natalia Kiselova, former Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament, believes that these achievements can benefit Bulgaria.

North Macedonia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Inter ethnic Relations, Stoilkovic, stated that the cooperation between Central and Eastern European countries and China is based on mutual respect, dialogue and consultation, and a common vision, and is a vivid example of cooperation among all parties.

As one of the most dynamic economies in the world, China plays a leading role in innovation and manufacturing cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries, with local cooperation being an important component. In June 2025, at the 2025 China Brand Goods (Central and Eastern Europe) Exhibition held in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, Shandong organized a total of 66 companies to participate, and the exhibited products such as solar modules, new energy electric vehicles, and industrial intelligent robots became the focus of the entire event. During this period, the Shandong exhibition area has received over 3800 professional buyers from Central and Eastern European countries, with an export intention of approximately 53 million US dollars.

With the increasingly close cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries, local economic and trade exchanges have also heated up.

At the Dongjia International Railway Freight Center in Jinan, the European freight train, loaded with goods such as household appliances, auto parts, and solar panels, slowly departed from the timetable and arrived at Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Unlike regular trains, it is fixed and timed like a bus, with a total travel time of about 12 days, compressing about 30% of the time compared to regular trains. The relevant person in charge of Jinan Port and Logistics Office introduced that the full schedule train provides stable and reliable expectations for enterprises, allowing them to organize production in an orderly manner according to plan.

On the banks of the Morava River, a tributary of the Danube River in Serbia, the construction site of the Serbian Danube Corridor Expressway project built by Shandong Expressway Group is bustling. Previously, Shandong Expressway completed the Serbia E763 highway project here, which is the first highway constructed by a Chinese enterprise in Europe and the first infrastructure project to land under the China Central and Eastern European countries cooperation framework. It is included in the European highway network's "Pan European Corridor 11".

The 7th China Central and Eastern European Countries Local Leaders Conference and 2026 Shandong International Friendship City Cooperation and Exchange Week have achieved fruitful results, with over a hundred enterprises conducting face-to-face negotiations and representatives from local provinces, states, and cities engaging in in-depth exchanges. The "Charter of the China Central and Eastern European Countries Local Governors Association" has been revised, and the "Jinan Consensus" has been released.

Savas Kululis, Deputy Governor of Ionian Province in Greece, brought local specialties such as fruits and olive oil to China in search of "Chinese opportunities". He said, "We look forward to showcasing our culture and natural scenery to the Chinese people, and we also hope to export delicious products to the Chinese market