On May 23, 2025, 2025 China-CEEC Mayors Forum was successfully convened in Ningbo, co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the People's Government of Ningbo. Themed "Promoting International Cooperation and Empowering Urban Development", this year's forum served as an important platform for fostering dialogue and strengthening partnerships between cities in China and Central and Eastern European countries. The opening ceremony was attended by: Yang Wanming, President of CPAFFC; Tang Feifan, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee and Mayor of Ningbo; Jiang Yu, Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for China-CEEC Cooperation Affairs; Richard Ra?i, Speaker of the National Council of Slovakia; Meira Hot, Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia; Viorica D?ncil?, former Prime Minister of Romania; Janusz Piechociński, former Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, among others. The ceremony was moderated by Jiang Jiang, Vice President of CPAFFC.
More than 200 distinguished guests attended in the forum, including government leaders and representatives from over 40 cities across all 14 member countries of the China-CEEC Cooperation Mechanism, as well as officials, business leaders, and scholars from over 30 cities in 16 Chinese provinces. Delegates engaged in in-depth exchanges on a wide range of topics, including economic and trade cooperation, cultural heritage preservation, dialogue among civilizations, urban governance, and green transformation. The forum fostered broad consensus on advancing urban-level cooperation and further supporting the overall development of China-CEEC relations.
(President Yang delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the 2025 China-CEEC Mayors Forum)
In his address at the opening ceremony, President Yang emphasized the long-standing and profound friendship between China and CEE countries, many of which were among the first to recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the New China. Since the establishment of the China-CEEC Cooperation Mechanism in 2012, bilateral ties have made remarkable progress. Xi Jinping stressed that the cooperation between China and CEE countries adheres to the principles of extensive consultation and joint contribution, real results and balance, openness and inclusiveness, and an innovative and pioneering spirit, which is a vivid practice of multilateralism and an important part of China-EU relations. City-to-city exchanges and cooperation constitute an essential part of China-CEEC relations. The world is undergoing unprecedented changes, with economic globalization and anti-globalization forces in sharp contention, and multilateralism and unilateralism locked in a struggle. The global governance system is experiencing profound adjustments. Against this backdrop, it is both timely and meaningful that subnational leaders from China and CEE countries leverage the forum to send a clear and united message in support of multilateralism and international cooperation. Looking ahead, it is hoped that cities from both sides will remain committed to the greater strategic picture, using local cooperation to lay a solid foundation for national relations; mutual people-to-people bonds will continue to flourish, building trust and mutual respect through broad-based engagement; both sides will deepen practical collaboration, jointly crafting a new blueprint for sustainable development; and youth from both regions will join hands to build a strong and lasting bridge of friendship and cooperation for the future.
(Top left: Tang Feifan, Mayor of Ningbo, delivers a speech; Top right: Richard Ra?i, Speaker of the National Council of Slovakia, delivers a speech; Bottom left: Viorica D?ncil?, Former Prime Minister of Romania, delivers a speech; Bottom right: Janusz Piechociński, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, delivers a speech.)
Mayor Tang Feifan of Ningbo noted that, in recent years, Ningbo has actively deepened friendly ties with CEE countries. Economic and trade cooperation has expanded steadily, transportation connectivity has grown stronger, and cultural exchanges have become increasingly dynamic. Ningbo is committed to working closely with cities from CEE countries to build a model of mutually beneficial cross-regional cooperation, contributing further to a China-Europe relationship defined by shared success and global impact.
Foreign guests remarked that, China-CEEC cooperation boasts a solid foundation and holds broad prospects. Enhancing city-to-city collaboration is beneficial for people on all sides. Cities from CEE countries are willing to further expand cooperation with China in areas such as trade, economy, investment, infrastructure, and culture, to jointly promote economic growth and sustainable development.
(Signing Ceremony of China-CEEC Subnational Friendship Cooperation Projects)
Following the opening ceremony, Chinese and foreign distinguished guests participated in two sub-forums, namely "Enhancing Connectivity and Promoting Economic Cooperation Between Cities," and "Inheriting Outstanding Cultural Heritage and Promoting Cultural Exchanges and People-to-People Connectivity." City representatives shared experiences, best practices, and future cooperation visions. The forum concluded with the adoption of the China-CEEC City Cooperation Initiative, which calls on cities from China and CEE countries to further deepen collaboration with a more open mindset and pragmatic actions, jointly creating a brighter future for sustainable urban development. A signing ceremony for China-CEEC subnational friendship cooperation projects was also held, formalizing a series of new partnerships at the city and provincial levels.
During their stay in Ningbo, guests from CEE countries took part in a series of major economic and cultural exchange events, including: The 4th China–Central and Eastern European Countries Expo and International Consumer Goods Fair, Slovakia and Slovenia, serving as guest countries of honor; The "Hi-Buy Central and Eastern Europe" import promotion campaign; the China-CEEC Investment Cooperation Matchmaking Conference; the Ningbo meeting of the China-CEECE Business Council; the 9th China (Ningbo)-CEEC Education Cooperation Exchange Conference; A Taste of Zhejiang and CEEC-Culinary Culture Exchange; and the 2025 China-CEE International Regatta. These activities highlighted the diverse dimensions of China-CEEC engagement, from education and gastronomy to green industry and consumer markets.
The China-CEEC Mayors Forum was launched in 2017 by the CPAFFC and the People's Government of Ningbo. Having been successfully held six times, the forum has become a key platform for fostering mutual understanding, enhancing people-to-people friendship, and promoting practical, mutually beneficial cooperation at the subnational level between China and Central and Eastern European countries.
