From May 25 to 29, 2026, the 7th China-CEEC Local Leaders’ Meeting & 2026 Shandong International Sister Cities Cooperation Week, hosted by the People's Government of Shandong Province, the Secretariat of the China-CEEC Cooperation Mechanism, and the China-CEEC Association of Provincial and Regional Governors, was successfully held. More than 600 Chinese and foreign guests from 44 countries and 15 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) across China gathered in Qilu to discuss cooperation, celebrate shared endeavors, and forge a common future.
Under the theme "Journey Together for a Shared Future," the meeting and week featured 23 events, including an opening ceremony, the China-CEEC Local Leaders’ Dialogue, a Provincial Governors' High-Level Dialogue, a Comprehensive Promotion Conference on High-Quality Development, and Business Matchmaking Forums. These activities deepened and expanded all-round, wide-ranging, and targeted exchanges and cooperation between Shandong and CEEC nations as well as its international sister cities, promoting higher-level mutual benefit, win-win outcomes, and coordinated development.
At the opening ceremony, distinguished guests including H.E. Mr. Izet Mexhiti, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intercommunity Relations of North Macedonia; H.E. Ms. Maja Mesarović, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Serbia; H.E. Mr. Nebojša Čavara, Vice-Chairman of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and H.E. Mr. Genci Nuhiu, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro, delivered speeches. The ceremony also featured interviews with friends of Shandong and the release of achievements, presenting a comprehensive overview of the accomplishments and opportunities in China-CEEC local cooperation and Shandong's partnerships with its sister cities, further enriching cooperation outcomes and enhancing Shandong's level of openness.
H.E. Mr. Vano Spahiu, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Albania, also participated in related events.
During the China-CEEC Local Leaders’ Dialogue, amendments were made to the Constitution of the China-CEEC Association of Provincial and Regional Governors, and the Jinan Consensus was issued, upgrading and strengthening the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism. At the Provincial Governors' High-Level Dialogue, Shandong provincial leaders and four friendly provincial governors engaged in discussions under the theme "Green & Low-Carbon · Shared Growth – Building a High-Quality Development Partnership," sharing experiences in green development and reaching consensus on deepening cooperation in green and low-carbon sectors.
With a clear focus on "economic diplomacy," the event featured the Comprehensive Promotion Conference on High-Quality Development, which showcased Shandong's development opportunities, fostered deeper mutual understanding, and sparked new cooperation ideas. The Business Matchmaking Forums brought together over 100 companies from China and abroad in sectors such as new energy, digital economy, and medical and health care for targeted discussions, yielding substantial practical outcomes. Other events included the 2026 Annual Meeting of the China-CEEC Modern Agricultural Science and Education Innovation Alliance and the CEEC Dialogue on the Integration of Science, Education, and Industry and Talent Development, further deepening full-chain cooperation with CEEC nations in agriculture, technology, industry, and talent.
During the"Into Shandong" Economic, Trade, and Cultural Series, foreign guests visited Jinan, Zibo, Jining, Tai'an, Linyi, Dezhou, Liaocheng, and Binzhou. Highlights included the "CEEC Local Leaders' Zibo Tour & The 3rd 'Meet Zibo' International Friendship Week" promotion in Zibo; the 2026 International Youth Exchange Conference and "Binzhou Enterprises Go Global" Economic and Trade Matchmaking in Binzhou; the Linyi Commercial City Theme Promotion and "Friends in Linyi, Trade Connecting the World" Industry Matchmaking in Linyi; and the "Shandong-CEEC Modern Agriculture Promotion and Sharing Meeting" in Liaocheng. By tapping into the unique resources of each city, the events achieved deep province-city collaboration, resource sharing, and effectively strengthened people-to-people bonds between Chinese and foreign participants.
During the event, exhibitions of high-quality products from sister cities and specialized agricultural machinery were held, showcasing Shandong's robust manufacturing strength and rich cultural heritage through physical displays and interactive sessions. The "Sister Cities Night" special concert used music as a medium to foster mutual understanding and friendship.
The CEEC Local Leaders’ Meeting and Shandong Sister Cities Cooperation Week stood out for its high-level participation, diverse activities, practical orientation, and coordinated approach, playing a significant role in deepening exchanges, expanding networks, enabling cooperation, and promoting shared benefits. Leveraging this event, Shandong established friendly cooperation relationships with the Minsk Region of Belarus, the Ionian Islands Region of Greece, the Maritime Region of Togo, and the Jizzakh Region of Uzbekistan. Shandong's international "friendship circle" now includes 93 pairs of friendly provinces/states and 681 pairs of sister cities, covering 109 countries. The event also featured celebratory activities marking the anniversaries of Shandong's sisterhood with South Australia (Australia) and Connecticut (USA), and witnessed the launch of projects such as the China-Greece Smart Green Agriculture Joint Laboratory. This event successfully aligned service to China's overall diplomacy with the province's opening-up and development, achieving synergy among political diplomacy, practical cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges, and resulting in a highly efficient, brilliant, productive, and far-reaching international gathering.
