The first China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair opens in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on June 8. [Photo by Pan Qi/chinadaily.com.cn]

The first China-Central and Eastern European Countries Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair opened in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on June 8. 

Themed "Opening-up and Cooperation, Partnership and Shared Success", the event attracted officials, exhibitors and entrepreneurs from 27 countries including Germany, France and Moldova.

Slovakia and Lithuania are both guest countries of honor for this year's expo, presenting their unique cultures and showing off featured products at their national stands in the Ningbo International Convention and Exhibition Center on the opening day.

Slovakia opens its national stand at the expo with a traditional dance. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] 

Petra Vajdikova, a performer with the Slovak State Traditional Dance Company, said she was very proud that Slovakia is a country of honor at the event and happy to perform the traditional dance strigonska zabava at the opening ceremony.

Slovakia's Deputy Prime Minister for Investments and Information, Richard Rasi, said Slovakia in April signed cooperation agreements to export milk and dairy products to China, adding that he believes Slovakian exhibitors will bring more products to the Chinese market through the expo. 

Zhejiang province's Deputy Governor Zhu Congjiu said he believes there is great potential for cooperation between Slovakia and Zhejiang.

"We sincerely hope Zhejiang and Slovakia will enhance cooperation in fields such as economic trade, logistics, science and technology innovation, and cultural communication," he said.  

A number of new contracts were signed between Slovakian and Chinese companies on the morning of June 8.