Unlocking New Opportunities: The 7th China-CEEC SME Forum 2026 in Cangzhou

The 7th China-CEEC SME Forum: New Horizons for Collaboration

On October 26-27, 2026, the bustling city of Cangzhou in Hebei province hosted the 7th China-CEEC (Cangzhou) SME Cooperation Forum, marking a significant milestone by commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Friendship Farm between China and Czech-Slovakia. This forum, themed "Promoting Bilateral Cooperation, Embracing a Shared Future," was co-sponsored by the Cangzhou Municipal People's Government, the Hebei Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and the Chinese Center for SME Development.

The forum set the stage for unveiling a blueprint for the collaborative development of an AI service ecosystem in Hebei under the 'Wanfan Yunhai' initiative. It highlighted fundamental strategies for advancing the high-quality growth of industrial clusters and proposed a roadmap for the initiative "Products from Hebei Go Global" aimed at Central and Eastern Europe. Together, these initiatives establish frameworks that can significantly enhance logistic cooperation between China and the CEEC nations.

A key highlight included the launch of the Cangzhou Chamber of Commerce for Economic and Trade Cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe, alongside an initiative to bolster SME collaboration between Cangzhou and CEEC countries. Furthermore, the city also introduced its partnership program aimed at establishing closer economic ties.

The forum featured eight parallel events including the Cross-Border Connections Conference for SMEs from China and CEEC, "Products from Hebei Go Global • AI Sets Sail," and discussions on energy equipment, carbon-neutral technologies, and production equipment relevant to Cangzhou and CEEC. These discussions were pivotal in creating tangible business opportunities.

Olivier Salzgeber, Vice President of Cargill for the Asia-Pacific region, praised the forum for connecting him with potential partners while expressing admiration for the circular economy model being developed in Cangzhou regarding eco-friendly chemicals and the progress made in AI-driven digital transformation. Cargill has already invested approximately $500 million in the initial phases of the Hebei Jiahao Grains and Oilseeds project at the Huanghua Port. Salzgeber noted that the strategic location and the combination of land and maritime transport offer significant logistical cost advantages, leading Cargill to intensify its investments in Cangzhou.

Wang Yunhong, President of IBIH Aerogel, highlighted the forum’s effectiveness in clarifying his company’s approach to penetrating Central and Eastern European markets while enabling direct discussions with regional businesses. Yan Chaoyi, General Manager of Czech-Sino Shark (Cangzhou) Aircraft Manufacturing, expressed that the forum provided an invaluable platform to showcase his company’s project, facilitating international orders and technical cooperation.

With the year 2027 marking the 15th anniversary of China-CEEC collaboration, Li Jian, Director General of the Department of European Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, reaffirmed China’s commitment to working closely with CEEC countries to bolster cooperation, promote mutual development, and achieve win-win outcomes, enriching the strategic partnership between China and the EU.

As the forum concluded, participants left inspired and equipped with new insights and partnerships, ready to explore the vast opportunities that lie ahead in the evolving landscape of international trade and cooperation.