Ningbo to enhance cooperation with Europe

Ningbo, in East China's Zhejiang province, plans to enhance its economic, cultural and educational exchanges with cities in central and eastern Europe.

Mayors from major cities in CEE countries gathered in the Chinese city to discuss expanding economic and cultural exchanges at the ongoing China Ningbo-Central and Eastern European Countries Economic and Cultural Exchange Week.

A Declaration of Friendly Relations and Cooperation was announced on Monday.

The declaration said that Ningbo and CEE cities will make efforts to strengthen city-to-city exchanges and cooperation by facilitating mutual visits, promoting economic cooperation and trade and expanding people-to-people exchanges.

In addition to encouraging qualified Ningbo entrepreneurs to invest in CEE cities, Ningbo will make efforts to help promote the exports of those cities.

Lu Ziyue, the mayor of Ningbo, said the city will seek possibilities for hosting a fair for CEE cities during the Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium and the China International Consumer Goods Fair, which are held annually in Ningbo.

"Ningbo welcomes CEE cities to host or participate in fairs with their products, and will provide all necessary convenience and service," Lu said.

Lu, representing the city, signed 22 agreements in educational exchange fields with CEE city mayors.

A three-year strategic educational exchange agreement was signed between Ningbo and Bulgarian city of Varna. The two cities will establish an educational resource platform to enable universities from both cities to enhance student and teacher exchange programs. The Bulgarian and Chinese languages will also be promoted in the respective cities.

Ivan Portnih, the mayor of Varna, said the cooperation will help both cities improve their educational quality and level.

"We are looking forward to the positive outcome of this agreement," he said.

To attract students to study in Ningbo, the city will establish a special scholarship category offering from 6,000 yuan ($965) to 30,000 yuan to support CEE students.

More than 300 people from 16 CEE countries attended more than 20 events during the five-day event in Ningbo.