The 6th China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Local Leaders' Meeting was held from Oct 15 to 17 in Yantai, Shandong province. The meeting approved North China's Shanxi province's application to join the China-CEEC Association of Provincial Governors, officially making the province a member.
Established on Aug 28, 2014, during the second China-CEEC Local Leaders' Meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, the association serves as a vital platform under the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism to promote regional and local cooperation. It plays a crucial role in fostering friendly exchanges between localities and deepening friendship between China and Central and Eastern European countries.
In recent years, Shanxi has prioritized cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries, establishing five sister city relationships with regions such as Hungary's Szolnok County and the Czech Republic's Moravian-Silesian Region.
The province has also established 13 friendly partnership relations with six countries and maintained close ties with 14 Central and Eastern European countries in various fields. These include trade, investment, agriculture, healthcare, education, technology, culture, and tourism.
As a new member of the association, Shanxi will use the platform to enhance friendly cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries. Through complementary cooperation, Shanxi aims for mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.