Recently, the inaugural China-CEEC Forum for Young Science & Technology Talents was held in Ningbo, attracting young scholars and experts from Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) such as Serbia, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Via the online platform, the speakers shared ideas on the theme "innovative youth share the future" and exchanged opinions about China-CEEC talent cooperation.
Marina Sokovic, assistant minister of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, attended the forum via a video link.
Sokovic said that research organs from Serbia and China had achieved remarkable accomplishments in recent years; she expressed the hope that the two countries would continue to strengthen cooperation in science and technology innovation and bolster the high-quality economic development of the two countries.
Professor Dame Dimitrovski of the University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, North Macedonia, pointed out that the COVID-19 epidemic had crossed geographical barriers and spread quickly to all parts of the world. The world today urgently needs the rapid dissemination of scientific information. The responses of the scientific community and society to the virus outbreak highlight the need to create a cohesive vision of cooperation and shared values to ensure that no one is left behind.
In the wake of the 2^nd China-CEEC Expo, Ningbo has witnessed a series of positive outcomes. A total of 12 multilateral activities aimed at promoting trade collaboration were launched during the Expo; 97 two-way investment programs worth $18.21 billion in total were signed. In addition, letters of procurement intent signed at the Expo represent a combined investment of 10.78 billion yuan ($1.62 billion).
According to A Research of the Local Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (2020), published by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Ningbo ranked first for two consecutive years in the comprehensive performance index of China-CEEC cooperation, followed by Tianjin, Xiamen, Beijing and Shanghai.