Two significant international events highlighted the strategic importance of China connecting with the world, particularly with Central and Eastern Europe. As part of the highly successful New Silk Road international project, the 9th Silk Road International Expo was held in Xi'an, aiming to deepen trade, infrastructure, and cultural ties between China, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Simultaneously, the 4th China–CEEC Expo, a trade fair and forum for cooperation between China and 17 countries of Central and Eastern Europe, took place in Ningbo.

While the "Expo" designation of both events might suggest a focus on investment opportunities and cultural performances, the primary purpose of both events is to strengthen diplomatic relations and to define the future direction of cooperation and China's overall foreign policy.

For Europe, the most important event was the China-Central and Eastern Europe Expo (CEEC Expo), which took place from May 22nd to 25th, 2025, in Ningbo. The fourth edition of the CEEC Expo was held not only in the city center, where similar expos have been held since 2012, but a significant portion of the event took place in newly built, modern exhibition and conference halls constructed specifically for this occasion. This year, it welcomed over 435 exhibitors from 14 countries of Central and Eastern Europe, showcasing more than 8,000 products on an area of 20,000 square meters. The event attracted more than 15,000 professional visitors, including over 3,000 foreign buyers from 72 countries and regions.

This year, Slovakia and Slovenia were the guest countries. While Slovenia focused on promoting its image as a culturally sophisticated and touristically attractive destination, Slovakia presented itself politically, in part due to the recent bilateral dialogue between Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Moscow. Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Richard Raši described relations with China as "strategic" and emphasized the willingness to deepen cooperation not only economically but also culturally and scientifically.

Slovakia was represented by over 40 companies showcasing products in the food and beverage sector, as well as renewable energy, aerospace technology, and academic collaboration. And as the atmosphere at the fair suggested, Slovakia enjoys a good reputation in China and is actively working to build open cooperation. The Chairman of the Slovak National Council, Richard Raši, emphasized at the opening of the Slovak pavilion that Slovakia and China are "friends without open political issues" and that their relationship is based on trust and fair business partnership.

Unfortunately, the Czech Republic had only minimal representation at the expo. Unlike 2019, when it was the host country and sent a strong delegation including companies from various sectors, this year only traditional brands with a long-standing presence in the Chinese market were present: Czech glass, Litovel beer, and Marlenka confectionery.

The Silk Road Expo in Xi'an

At virtually the same time, but over a thousand kilometers west of the coastal city of Ningbo, a similarly large event took place in the historic city of Xi'an – the former starting point of the Silk Road – the 9th Silk Road International Expo. More than 70 countries and regions, including representatives from the United Nations and various international organizations, were represented. The main themes were infrastructure, international trade, green energy, agricultural cooperation, and digital transformation.

The Expo in Xi'an is more than just a regional exhibition; it serves as a showcase for the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to create a global network of trade and strategic partnerships across continents. This year, the key message was to strengthen cooperation between China and countries in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, as well as Hungary, which was a guest of honor, were prominently featured. All these countries promoted their logistics hubs and industrial zones linked to Chinese investments, and had the opportunity to strengthen not only trade but also diplomatic ties.

Of the European countries, Hungary was the most active – a country that benefits the most from Chinese investments within the European space, including the construction of a CATL factory and logistics projects as part of the New Silk Road.

Between Opportunity and Disinterest

Both major international exhibitions – the CEEC Expo in Ningbo and the Silk Road International Expo in Xi'an – demonstrate that China continues to systematically build its ties with Europe, particularly through regional partnerships and specific trade and infrastructure projects. While some countries in Central and Eastern Europe, such as Hungary and Slovakia, see the Chinese initiative as an opportunity for growth, visibility, and economic benefits, the Czech Republic is absent from these events.

Although, according to the program, a memorandum of cultural cooperation was supposed to be signed between the city of Ningbo and Ústí nad Labem, the Czech presence remained largely symbolic. However, from an economic point of view, China remains a key player for the Czech Republic and the entire EU, particularly as a supplier of strategic raw materials, technologies, and intermediate products. Trade continues regardless of diplomatic nuances. Events like these are not only showcases for trade and cooperation, but also strategic meetings at the diplomatic level, which create important connections in a rapidly changing global world.

(koh)