03.07.2025 / The 13th meeting of the Consultative Board of APACCCEEC was held on June 23, 2025
On June 23, 2025, in Sofia, the 13th Meeting of the Consultative Board of APACCCEEC was held in a hybrid format (in-person and online). The event took place in the same week as the International Conference ‘10 Years APACCCEEC: Bridge for Cooperation Between China and the CEE Countries’ and the Second Council Meeting of China-CEEC Modern Agricultural Science and Education Innovation Alliance.
The meeting was chaired by Dr. Momchil Stanishev, Director of APACCCEEC and Chairman of the Consultative Board. The participants in the meeting included members of the APACCCEEC Consultative Board from countries of the China-CEEC Cooperation Initiative. Representatives from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sofia – Mr. Ma Hongchen, First Secretary, and Ms. Wang Chenxi, Attaché at the Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Section – also attended the meeting as special guests.
During the meeting Dr. Momchil Stanishev reported the Association’s activities in 2024, as well as the priorities, activities and events planned for 2025. The participants were provided with detailed information about APACCCEEC’s current projects, including the Academy for Entrepreneurship in Agriculture, the Demonstration Zone of Agricultural Cooperation between China and the CEE Countries and the Hub for Agricultural and other Products in Plovdiv, the “Catalogue for good practices in the trade between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and China” project and the Permanent Pavilion of CEE countries in Ningbo, China.
Information about APACCCEEC’s recent participation in trade fairs and exhibitions was presented, including APACCCEEC’s participation with Pavilions at international exhibitions in Greece, Romania, and China. Dr. Stanishev also shared information about APACCCEEC’s membership of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and the Association’s role as a co-founder of the China-CEEC Modern Agricultural Science and Education Innovation Alliance.
During the 13th Meeting of the Consultative Board, Ms. Yuan Tong, Division Director of Agricultural Trade Promotion Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PRC, delivered an address and highlighted APACCCEEC’s significant role in advancing agricultural cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European countries, noting that agriculture has become a vital part of China-CEEC cooperation.
Ms. Yuan Tong emphasized the achievements in China-CEEC agricultural cooperation, among which the improving cooperation mechanisms and a growing agricultural trade. She noted that agricultural trade between China and the CEE countries had reached USD 2.25 billion in 2024, marking an 83% increase compared to a decade earlier. CEE agricultural products such as Bulgarian sunflower seeds, Polish dairy products, and Czech hops are accelerating their entry into the Chinese market.
Ms. Yuan Tong underscored that the CEE countries possess unique natural conditions and and a rich variety of high-quality agricultural products. At the same time, China and the CEECs have their own strengths in agriculture, with great potential for complementary advantages.
During the meeting, Dr. Momchil Stanishev presented APACCCEEC’s plans for upcoming initiatives and events, while also introducing topics for future discussion with the Consultative Board members.
