Shenzhen event opens new opportunities for China-CEEC cooperation

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area & Central and Eastern European Countries Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Conference was recently held in Shenzhen, bringing together representatives from across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to explore opportunities for closer economic and cultural ties between China and Central and Eastern European countries.

A guest delivers a speech at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area & Central and Eastern European Countries Economic and Trade Cooperation Exchange Conference recently held in Shenzhen. Photos courtesy of the event organizers

The gathering coincided with the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Latvia. Over the past 35 years, the two countries have developed their relationship on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, with growing cooperation in various fields and increasingly close people-to-people exchanges. To mark the occasion, the event's organizing committee invited Kārlis Eihenbaums, Latvia's ambassador to China, and his wife, Ināra Eihenbauma, to attend the event in Shenzhen.

More than 200 guests from across the GBA attended, including representatives of government bodies, business leaders, university scholars and professionals from the arts and cultural sectors.

Guests pose for a group photo at the event.

In his address, Ambassador Eihenbaums spoke highly of the longstanding friendship between China and Latvia and the progress made in bilateral cooperation over the past 35 years, emphasizing that Latvia attached great importance to opportunities for cooperation with China and the GBA. Looking ahead, Latvia would seek to strengthen economic and trade ties, industrial cooperation and cultural exchanges with the region.

He also highlighted the GBA's strong industrial base, innovation capabilities and openness to international cooperation as important foundations for expanding two-way trade and collaboration in areas such as specialized industries, tourism and culture. Latvia, he added, would continue to support cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Guests pose for a group photo with members of a Latvian university folk dance troupe that performed at the event.

The event also featured a performance showcasing traditional Baltic culture brought by a Latvian university folk dance troupe. Their lively dances and distinctive costumes offered guests an opportunity to experience Latvia's cultural heritage and the artistic traditions of the Baltic region.

A key organizer of the event, the Shenzhen CEEC Economic and Cultural Association has long worked to promote exchanges between Shenzhen, the GBA and Central and Eastern European countries.

As China and Latvia mark 35 years of diplomatic relations, the association plans to embark on a new decade of development, drawing on the GBA's geographic and industrial strengths to deepen engagement with Central and Eastern European countries. Its future initiatives will focus on trade, cultural and artistic exchanges, youth engagement and business matchmaking, while helping introduce quality products from the region — including Latvian beer and specialty light-industry goods — to the GBA market.

The successful event marked both a celebration of 35 years of China-Latvia diplomatic relations and a practical step toward closer cooperation between the GBA and Central and Eastern Europe. Building on this gathering, the participating organizations and communities hope to further strengthen economic ties, promote cultural understanding and foster closer connections between people, opening new avenues for mutually beneficial cooperation.