​3rd China-CEEC Expo to open tomorrow

Ningbo is decorated for the third China-CEEC Expo scheduled to be held in the city from May 16 to 20. [Photo/Ningbo Evening News]

The third China-CEEC Expo is scheduled to open in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, on May 16.

The five-day event, revolving round "Deepen Practical Cooperation, Join Hands for a Common Future", will comprise a 220,000-square-meter exhibition and 27 activities related to a myriad of fields, including science and technology, tourism and health.

Roughly 290 prominent figures, including ministers and diplomats from Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia, have confirmed their participation.

The expo will be attended by more than 3,000 exhibitors and over 10,000 professional buyers, while Hungary, the guest of honor this year, will have its own exhibition hall.

As of May 14, all the expo's booths had been built, and more than 8,000 registered buyers had arrived in Ningbo.

According to the organizers, over 10 billion yuan ($1.44 billion) worth of procurement deals for CEEC commodities are projected to be agreed upon at the event.

Compared with previous years, this year will shine more light on CEEC national brands and their characteristic industries.

For the first time, 14 EU geographical indication products will be on display at the expo, alongside a magic wall display from Hungry and ski equipment from Slovenia.

On top of CEECs, other European countries like Germany, Italy, France, Finland, Switzerland, Denmark and Austria will participate in the event to tap the booming Chinese market.

Meanwhile, new events such as a sailing race, forum for women scientists, and roundtable meeting for executives of multinational companies in the new materials industry will be held alongside the expo.

The expo will coincide with the 24th China Zhejiang Investment and Trade Fair, a provincial investment promotion event, which will be also held in Ningbo.