The 6th China-CEEC Local Leaders' Meeting commences in Yantai, Shandong province on Oct 16. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The 6th China-CEEC Local Leaders' Meeting, themed "China-CEEC Local Cooperation for the Future", commenced in Yantai, Shandong province on the morning of Oct 16.

Around 1,000 Chinese and foreign guests gathered for the event, including former officials from Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC), diplomats, representatives from ally organizations, business delegates, experts, and scholars. They shared experiences and achievements in promoting local exchanges, offering forward-looking cooperation proposals and insightful perspectives.

The meeting features two main forums:  the local green low-carbon cooperation development forum and the local agricultural cooperation academic high-end forum, alongside two parallel forums focusing on industry-education integration and enterprise collaboration.

Exhibitions on photography, commodities, traditional Chinese medicine, and high-quality Yantai products will also take place.

The cooperation mechanism between China and the CEEC, established in 2012, has evolved into a cross-regional platform based on old friendships, mutual cooperation, and shared development. Over more than a decade, it has fostered cooperation in diverse fields such as trade, culture, education, tourism, and technology.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the China-CEEC Association of Provincial Governors. In recent years, Shandong province has actively engaged with the Belt and Road Initiative, expanding exchanges with provinces and states in Central and Eastern Europe in fields like economic and trade relations, high-level visits, and cultural exchanges, leading to significant achievements and a promising future of collaboration.