Local leaders from China, CEE nations seek deeper practical cooperation

Delegates at the 7th Local Leaders' Meeting of China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) have said they are looking to deepen practical cooperation in sectors such as artificial intelligence, green energy, digital economy and smart industry.

The opening ceremony of the 7th China-CEEC Local Leaders' Meeting and 2026 Shandong International Friendship Cities Cooperation and Exchange Week were held in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province, on Tuesday. It brought together approximately 400 participants from 44 countries, including incumbent and former political leaders, provincial and municipal governors, diplomats, and representatives from sister cities, business councils and enterprises.

Specialty agricultural products from Europe, including Bulgarian rose oil, Slovak chocolate and Polish dairy products, were displayed at the meeting venue, alongside high-end equipment and intelligent manufacturing products from Shandong.

During the event, Greece's Ionian Islands region in the west of the country formalized friendly cooperation relations with Shandong and Savas Koulouris, the deputy governor of the Ionian Islands, was happy to show off a symbolic product at his region's booth.

"The most famous fruit is kumquat. Kumquat is someone from China, too many years ago, bring this fruit to Greece, and the only place it grow up it was Corfu," he said.

The event featured a range of activities including governor dialogues, business matchmaking, and discussions focused on cooperation in different sectors.

"As Confucius said, 'To establish oneself, one must also help others establish themselves; to succeed, one must also help others succeed.' This principle is especially important in today's world facing many economic and global challenges. Cooperation is no longer an option but a necessity," said Izet Mexhiti, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intercommunity Relations of North Macedonia.

The China-CEEC cooperation mechanism was launched in 2012 as a cross-regional practical cooperation platform jointly initiated by China and CEEC and aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation and promoting common development.

Local leaders from China, CEE nations seek deeper practical cooperation

The death toll in Lebanon from Israeli attacks has climbed to 3,269, with 9,840 injured since March 2, Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health said in statement on Wednesday, as Israel ramps up its military operations in the country.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that it struck more than 150 Hezbollah infrastructure sites and fighters during attacks in and around the southern Lebanese cities of Tyre and Nabatieh and in the Beqaa Valley in the east.

The IDF said it had issued evacuation orders for five towns and villages in southern Lebanon.

According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health and National News Agency, the Tuesday night airstrikes killed at least 31 people, including children, and wounded 40 more. They said the Israeli forces struck areas near the Qaraoun Dam in the Beqaa Valley three times.

Israeli media reported on Tuesday that the IDF is expanding military operations beyond the so-called "yellow line," a buffer zone unilaterally established by Israel along its border with southern Lebanon, to counter the threat from drones launched by Hezbollah.

A ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon took effect in April. Despite the truce, Israel has continued to carry out near-daily strikes in Lebanon, while Hezbollah has launched attacks on Israeli military positions.

Lebanese death toll from Israeli strikes rises to 3,269 since March 2