Quality Agri-Foods from Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) Gain Easier Access to China, Following the Fourth China-CEEC Expo Promotion Event for Newly-admitted Agri-Foods

 

 

On September 25, the Promotion Event for Newly Admitted Agri-Food Products of the Fourth China-CEEC Expo was successfully held at the China-CEEC Commodities Exchange and Experience Center. A simultaneous online session via Zoom provided a cross-time-zone platform for exchange and cooperation between Chinese and foreign companies. The event was organized by the Ningbo Central and Eastern Europe Expo and Cooperation Promotion Center, under the guidance of the Commercial Division of the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in China, the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria and the Economic and Commercial Office of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Republic of Croatia. It aimed to facilitate the swift entry of newly approved products such as Bulgarian saffron and Croatian tuna into the Chinese market, creating business matching and cooperation opportunities for enterprises from home and abroad.

 

 

 

 

In his opening address, Ivet Nikolova, Commercial Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Shanghai, expressed support for the event and acknowledged its important role in promoting agricultural and food trade between Bulgaria and China. The moderator then proceeded to introduce the event background and distinguished guests, expressing gratitude towards the guiding and supporting institutions, as well as to the domestic and international enterprise representatives and other honored guests participating both online and offline. The moderator also detailed the three core segments of the event - policy interpretation, product roadshows, and supply-demand dialogue.

 

 

 

 

During the policy interpretation segment, representatives from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Division and the Food Safety Division of Ningbo Customs were invited to deliver authoritative presentations on market access procedures, tariff policies, and expedited clearance measures via the “fast track” for Bulgarian saffron and Croatian tuna. The professional and detailed explanations helped boost the confidence of Chinese importers and clarified regulatory pathways for the newly admitted agri-foodproducts.

 

 

 

 

During the core product promotion segment, a representative from Croatia's Pelagos net farma d.o.o. delivered an online presentation detailing the comprehensive industrial chain development of Croatian tuna - spanning breeding, processing, and quality control - enabling Chinese enterprises to gain an in-depth understanding of the product's advantages. Meanwhile, Mr. Zhivko, Vice Chairman of the Bulgarian Association of Saffron Producers, presented on behalf of the association and its member enterprises (including Saffron Trade, among others) the cultivation strengths and deep-processing potential of Bulgarian saffron online. The segment also featured participation from the Association of Pig Breeders in Bulgaria, the Association of Vegetable Oil Producers and Oilseed Processors in Bulgaria, and companies such as Agriada, Viloway, as well as Peltina JSC, collectively presenting a diverse range of high-quality agricultural and food products to the Chinese enterprises.

 

 

 

 

The supply-demand dialogue segment emerged as one of the highlights of the event. Chen Weijun, Executive President of the Procurement Alliance of CEEC Commodity, introduced the Alliance and presented the procurement needs of both the alliance itself and its member enterprises. Shen Liwei, Assistant General Manager of NINGBO COSCO SHIPPING COLD CHAIN SUPPLY CHAIN CO.,LTD, shared insights into the company's cold chain storage capabilities and product selection standards. Additionally, representatives from multiple Chinese companies, including China-Base Commercial &Trading (Zhejiang) Co., Ltd., Moogo Supply Chain Technology (Ningbo) Co. Ltd., and Ningbo Adriatic Fashion International Trading Co.,Ltd., took part in the segment, actively engaging with their foreign counterparts to explore cooperative opportunities.

 

 

 

 

The event concluded with a Q&A and free networking session, where participants online and offline raised questions and interacted via Zoom, creating a lively atmosphere. The organizer also compiled contact details of participating Chinese companies into a shared document to facilitate follow-up communication between Chinese and foreign enterprises.

 

 

 

 

The successful hosting of this promotion event has not only opened key channels for newly-admitted CEEC agricultural and food products to enter China but also built a solid bridge for business cooperation between Chinese and international enterprises. Moving forward, relevant institutions will continue to track collaboration progress and facilitate the entry of more high-quality products from CEECs into the Chinese market, contributing to deeper economic and trade cooperation between China and the CEEC region.

 

 

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