On the morning of June 7, the 2019 China-CEEC Mayors Forum was held in Ningbo. Qiu Dongyao, Mayor of Ningbo, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

He said, in recent years, the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping has won great support from the countries along the BRI including the CEECs. It has been proved that the Belt and Road embodies cooperation, hope and mutual benefits. Ningbo, as a “living fossil” on the Ancient Silk Road of China, has registered huge progress in serving the BRI construction and deepening the “17+1” regional cooperation and has also established closer ties with cities of the CEECs.

On the deepening of cooperation and exchange between China and CEECs, Qiu gave four suggestions. First, economic and trade cooperation should be enhanced. Ningbo will launch a cross-border market promotion program for importing CEEC products to China via e-commerce platforms to benefit the people of both parties.

Second, investment cooperation should be furthered. Ningbo encourages local enterprises to invest and open factories and build overseas industrial parks in the CEECs. Meanwhile, CEEC enterprises are welcomed to invest and develop business in Ningbo. 

Third, innovation cooperation should be upgraded. Ningbo is willing to work together with the governments of CEECs to promote joint researches, co-build laboratories, strengthen the exchanges between scientific and technological personnel and expand the cooperation in such fields as digital economy, electronic business, financial technology and smart cities, thus sharing the new benefits in scientific and technological development. 

Fourth, cultural cooperation should be consolidated. It is expected that against the backdrop of “China-CEEC Education and Youth Exchange Year” program this year, both parties can strengthen the cooperation between universities by promoting student exchanges, teachers training and scientific research cooperation. Meanwhile, both parties should deepen their cooperation in such fields as tourism, health, sports and think tank to cement the friendship between the peoples and usher in a good life.

(Executive Editor: Liu LIU)