On November 13, 2023, the 5th China-CEEC (Cangzhou) SME Cooperation Forum opened in Cangzhou. Governor of Hebei Province Wang Zhengpu, Vice Governor Hu Qisheng, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xu Xiaolan, Vice Foreign Minister and Secretary-General of the Secretariat of Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Deng Li, CEEC Diplomatic Envoys to China, and Chinese and foreign business leaders were present at the event. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Serbia Sinisa Mali, among others, delivered remarks via video link.

On behalf of the Secretariat, Deng Li wishes the Forum a success, and extended welcome to guests from China and abroad and the representative of Georgia as an observer to attend the Forum for the first time. Deng Li said that it is of great significance and relevance to strengthen cooperation between China and CEEC small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Deng Li said that the two sides should further align development strategies, expand cooperation in such fields as green development and digital transformation, foster new sources of growth through innovative cooperation, and continue to create conditions for enterprise matchmaking and cooperation through the SME Cooperation Forum and China-CEEC Expo, among other platforms, so as to jointly make new progress in practical China-CEEC cooperation.

Leaders of Hebei Province, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and Cangzhou City said that China is ready to continue to deepen cooperation with CEEC, and focus on enhancing the capacity of SMEs for making innovations and engaging in specialized production, and hopes that all parties will take the Forum as an opportunity to share new development opportunities.

Sinisa Mali and other foreign guests expressed the hope that China and CEEC will continue to expand cooperation in various fields, and inject new impetus into China-CEEC cooperation.

Themed "Expand Openness and Cooperation for Win-win Development", the Forum consisted of such events as an innovation outcomes exhibition, high-end forum, thematic matchmaking, and agreement signing for projects, among others. More than 600 Chinese and CEEC enterprises attended the Forum.