Osvaldas Ciuksys, chairman of Lithuania-China Business Council, said: "We need to connect in One Belt One Road strategy not only by transportation corridors, but also by establishing long-term technology connections, or smart technologies."
"Nordic Baltic region is very well developed and have a unique high value-added, knowledge-based economies, which are of great interest to Chinese high-tech companies, investors, universities, R and D (Research and Development) centers," he said.
"This year's China-CEE summit will discuss issues in different fields, including not only increasing economic cooperation, but also cultural, academic, defense and people diplomacy projects," Ciuksys added.
This will further strengthen the cooperation ties and give additional value to the format "16+1", he said.
HIGH EXPECTATIONS
Before his departure to China, Denis Zvizdic, chairman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), told Xinhua that he comes with lots of proposals for the sectors of energy, agriculture and tourism, particularly products exports.
This visit "will be a strong proof of the good cooperation so far between BiH and China, which will strengthen the economic, political and cultural relations," he said.
"I especially want to stress the possibilities of exporting milk, beer, wine, cooking oil," he added.
Newly-elected Polish President Andrzej Duda said that Poland could become a kind of logistics center for China's Belt and Road Initiative and act as an ambassador in relations between China and the CEE countries.
Duda listed transport, infrastructure, mining and hi-tech industries as possible areas of mutual cooperation. He also stressed the role of Polish agricultural products could play in trade, saying "Polish fruit, yoghurt, and meat conquer Western European markets. They are already valued in France and Germany. I am certain that in the nearest future, the Chinese would also inquire about these specific Polish products."
The biggest ever Lithuanian business delegation led by Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius came to China with an aim to enhance ties, Ciuksys said.
Lithuania "expects a remarkable breakthrough not only on exports from Lithuania to China, but also big investment on some big projects," he said.
Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka who will attend the "16+1" meeting plans to talk about topics including how to boost bilateral investments, intensify and simplify trade relations, expand cooperation in education, energy and agriculture, and build economic and technological zones for Chinese investors in the Moravia-Silesia Region.
"The China-CEE countries' cooperation constitutes a new growth driver in China's relations with the EU and is an important component in further global economic development," said Sanja Vasic, director of International Economic Relations Center, Belgrade Chamber of Commerce.
"There is a huge potential for cooperation and a great interest of all involved parties to push forward (through) this cooperation mechanism political, trade, science, finance, cultural exchanges and economic growth of each individual country," Vasic added.
