On October 16, the Sixth China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Local Leaders’ Meeting opened in Yantai, Shandong. The event was attended by Li Hongzhong, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, who delivered an opening speech. Former Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Trenkova, former Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Ante Simonic, former Serbian Speaker, former Deputy Prime Minister and Governor of Vojvodina Province Gojković, and Hungarian Governor of Borsod County Boglárka were also in attendance, as well as Shandong Party Secretary Lin Wu, who addressed the assembly, and Shandong’s Vice Party Secretary and Governor Zhou Naixiang, who presided over the meeting. Our university’s Vice President, Li Yue, was invited to the opening ceremony and participated in the “China-CEEC Industry-Education Integration Development Forum”.

During the forum, which marked the launch of the China (Shandong)-CEEC Industry-Education Integration Alliance, our university was selected as the Alliance’s director unit. The forum featured two specialized dialogue sessions, and Li Yue was invited to speak on the theme “A New Era of Internationalized Chinese Education for Win-Win Cooperation — ‘Chinese Language + Vocational Skills’”. She highlighted our university’s achievements in the internationalization of vocational education, presenting key initiatives such as the “Shenzhen Digital Workshop”, “Shenzhen International Journals”, “Shenzhen International Platform”, “Shenzhen International Conferences”, “Shenzhen Agreement”, and the “Shenzhen Model for Joint Talent Development”. In collaboration with representatives from domestic and international universities, vocational institutions, and leading companies, she engaged in an in-depth discussion, offering innovative solutions to promote industry-education integration. The event also included a “China-CEEC Cooperation Success Stories Exhibition”, where numerous delegates paused at our university’s display to take photos and learn more.

China-CEEC cooperation was formally launched on April 26, 2012, as a cross-regional platform built on the foundation of longstanding friendly relations and a shared commitment to mutually beneficial development. Since its establishment, this cooperation framework, led by the leaders’ summit, has expanded across fields including trade, culture, education, youth, agriculture, tourism, science and technology, health, think tanks, and local government. These partnerships have generated fruitful results, deepening bilateral ties between China and CEECs and enriching China-EU relations.

 (Li Simin, Office of International Exchange and Cooperation)