China's trade with Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) has grown for ten consecutive years, with the total value in the first half of 2026 rising 11 percent year on year, data from the General Administration of Customs (GAC) showed on Tuesday.
"In the first half of this year, trade between China and CEEC totaled 580.12 billion yuan, up 11 percent year on year -- a figure equivalent to 3.7 times the level recorded in the same period of 2012," said Lyu Daliang, GAC spokesman and director of the GAC's Department of Statistics and Analysis, at a press briefing in Beijing.
The trade in agricultural and food products between the two sides has seen particularly notable growth.
"The two sides have stepped up exchanges and cooperation in animal and plant quarantine as well as import and export food safety. To date, over 130 types of agricultural and food products from CEEC have been granted market access to China. In the first half of 2026, bilateral trade in agricultural products reached 7.58 billion yuan, up 16.2 percent year on year, with imports surging 34.8 percent. Among these, imports of cocoa-based food products and aquatic products rose 57.6 percent and 36.8 percent, respectively," he said.
China's trade with central, eastern European countries grows by 11 pct in H1
Hailin City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has activated emergency responses in face of the prolonged heavy rainfall brought about by Typhoon Bavi, the ninth typhoon of the year.
The torrential rain has led to road hazards in the forest area, along with rapid rises of river water.
To cope with the severe situation, local authorities have conducted emergency rescue and evacuated residents as quickly as possible.
Since large machinery is less effective in mountainous terrain, road clearance was carried out through manual labor with mechanical assistance. The work included unclogging drains, clearing debris, and repairing protective facilities, all aimed at strengthening the flood prevention and disaster relief capacity of forest-area roads.
"Upon discovering an emergency, we immediately report it in the group chat. Based on videos and photos, we assess the workload and deploy the necessary vehicles, equipment, and personnel. We strive to mobilize the team within five minutes after receiving emergency call," said Wang Chao, leader of a local road maintenance team.
Since Saturday, the city has been suffering from heavy rainfall constantly. The city has activated a joint duty mechanism involving multiple departments, deployed flood control forces in advance, and focused on preventing mountain torrent disasters.
"As needed, we have deployed members of the leading team, government-appointed village liaisons, and local police officers to go deep into villages and communities at the earliest opportunity. They are closely monitoring changes in water levels and are ready to evacuate residents promptly based on the evolving situation, so as to ensure the safety of people's lives and property," said Yang Ming, Hailin Town's Party secretary.
Northeastern Chinese city activates emergency response amid prolonged heavy rainfall
