Province extends hand of friendship to European countries
Official data show that between 2014-18, the total trade volume between Ningbo and CEEC amounted to $14.8 billion.
By the end of 2018, the city reached agreements on 141 mutual investment projects with CEEC, more than many other regions in China.
Apart from a series of events, the city has also played a role in building pilot zones featuring services, such as inspection and logistics.
In June 2016, the CEEC Trade Logistics Zone opened with an area of 12,000 square meters. Now, there are a further 8,000 sq m under construction.
In 2017, the China-CEEC Inspection and Quarantine Pilot Zone of Trade Facilitation was unveiled in Ningbo.
In November 2017, authorities from China and CEEC reached the first agreement in supporting a city in China to build an economic and trade cooperation demonstration zone. The Ningbo city government issued a guideline to begin the construction of a demonstration zone last year, focused on promoting sectors including trade, investment and public services.
To promote the communications between the two sides, Ningbo has stepped up its efforts in the culture field.
In November 2017, the first China cultural center established by the then Ministry of Culture opened in Bulgaria. It is operated by the Ningbo city government.
In addition, Ningbo has expanded cooperation with CEEC in education.
It has joined hands with CEEC to build collaborative cultural programs including language and culture centers and research centers.
To deepen cultural cooperation, the city has launched exchanges. Its government delegations have held mutual visits with its counterparts from countries including Romania and Poland, as part of efforts to learn more about each others' culture.