The High-Level Think Tanks Forum for High-Quality Development of China-CEEC Local Cooperation begins in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on Wednesday. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The High-Level Think Tanks Forum for High-Quality Development of China-Central and Eastern European Countries Local Cooperation — a key part of the ongoing second China-CEEC Expo — opened in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on Wednesday.

The forum was hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Zhejiang Provincial People's Government.

More than 80 officials and representatives of governments, universities and research institutions attended the forum in person, while around 10 scholars from think tanks or academic institutions in Central and Eastern European countries participated via video link. They discussed deepening China-CEEC local cooperation in economy, trade, environmental protection and technological innovation.

Panelists at the High-Level Think Tanks Forum for High-Quality Development of China-CEEC Local Cooperation discuss key issues in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on Wednesday. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

According to a report that was released at the forum — titled Research on Local Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (2020) — Ningbo has ranked first for two consecutive years in the comprehensive performance index of China-CEEC cooperation, followed by Tianjin, Xiamen, Beijing and Shanghai.

Two other reports were also released at the forum — the National Report on Transportation in Central and Eastern European Countries (2021), and A Review of the Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (2012-20).