By Hasan Muhammad

Editor's Note: The writer is a freelance columnist on international affairs based in Karachi, Pakistan. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of China Economic Net.

Amid a global environment where economic nationalism often trumps cooperation and suspicion easily outpaces understanding, it is both instructive and timely to consider a rare occasion where diplomacy and commerce align under one roof - or, more precisely, across 80,000 square meters of curated opportunity. The 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair, currently underway (May 22 to May 25) in Ningbo, symbolizes an expanding axis of East-West cooperation.

Now in its fourth iteration, the event is carving out its relevance not only as a symbol of China’s Belt and Road ambitions, but also as a genuine platform for Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) to reposition themselves in a changing global order.

Slovenia and Slovakia - this year’s Guests of Honor - embody this duality of tradition and modernity. From Slovenian ski gear to Slovakian medical equipment, the exhibition weaves together the artisanal and the futuristic. It’s not just the hardware that’s evolving. The structure of the Expo has matured into a full-fledged diplomatic theatre. Over 8,000 specialty items from 14 CEEC countries are on display. Eleven headline events, four institutional dialogues, and a string of matchmaking activities reveal how multilayered this platform has become. The 7th China-CEEC Dialogue on Customs, for instance, saw the immediate approval of Bulgaria’s saffron and Croatia’s tuna for Chinese import, a small but illustrative example of fast-tracked trade facilitation - a phenomenon rarely seen in conventional economic forums.

Behind the glittering statistics - 15,000 professional attendees, 3,000 overseas buyers from 72 nations, and procurement intentions exceeding 10 billion yuan - lies a deeper narrative of economic complementarity. While China is looking westward to diversify its imports, CEEC countries are eager to tap into the world's second-largest consumer market. Trade between the two sides has not just increased - it has accelerated. Since 2012, bilateral trade has grown at an annualized rate of 8.8%, with imports from CEEC countries outpacing China’s overall foreign trade growth. The numbers from the first four months of 2025 speak volumes: bilateral trade reached nearly 330 billion yuan, a 5.6% year-on-year surge.

But these numbers, impressive as they are, only scratch the surface. The Expo reveals a shift from traditional trade patterns toward more innovative and forward-looking sectors. Serbia’s maritime safety sensors, Slovakia’s high-grade medical equipment, and Hungary’s VR technologies reflect a new economic grammar. It’s no longer just about moving goods across borders; it’s about co-developing technology, sharing innovation, and creating sustainable solutions.

In a move that underscores China’s seriousness, Beijing has rolled out a trial visa waiver program for passport holders from 38 countries, including multiple CEEC nations. The aim is not simply to make travel easier but to foster a deeper level of people-to-people interaction. Business, after all, does not thrive in isolation. It thrives on familiarity, understanding, and shared goals.

The fact that nine non-CEEC countries - including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain - have joined this year's edition only amplifies its growing global appeal. Far from being a narrow, regional gathering, the Expo has evolved into a versatile global platform.

There are, of course, broader geopolitical implications to this. As protectionism surges across continents, the China-CEEC Expo serves as a counterweight. The deeper China-CEEC collaboration not only buffers both regions against the headwinds of protectionism but also lends strength to the larger project of China-Europe economic engagement.