Ningbo's enterprises are welcoming China's recent decision to expand its visa-free policy, which includes nine new countries, as a major opportunity to boost trade and cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC).

China announced the extension of its visa-exemption policy to nine more countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Japan, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Estonia and Latvia, starting from the end of this month to the end of 2025.

As the first China-CEEC economic and trade cooperation demonstration zone, Ningbo has been at the forefront of promoting bilateral trade, investment, and cultural exchanges between China and CEEC. The expansion of visa-free access is expected to facilitate more face-to-face interactions and strengthen business ties between the two regions.

Chen Yi, general manager of Ningbo Dijia Vida Trading Co Ltd, has already received inquiries from several CEE clients hoping to visit China shortly after the visa-free policy was announced. She mentioned Biofresh, a Bulgarian cosmetics brand, as an example of the growing trade ties between Ningbo and CEEC, with sales in China increasing by over 30 percent annually since becoming their exclusive distributor in 2020.

The Procurement Alliance of CEEC Commodity has also embraced the visa-free policy, viewing it as an opportunity to further cement economic and cultural ties between China and the CEE region. Chen Youxiang, president of the alliance, remarked that the policy would pave the way for smoother travel for businessmen, tourists, and cultural scholars, thereby fostering deeper and broader cooperation between the two sides.

According to Ningbo Customs, the city's imports and exports with CEEC totaled 47.64 billion yuan ($6.57 billion) in the first ten months of this year, marking a year-on-year increase of 14 percent. Imports from Romania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro, all of which are recent additions to the visa-free list, have demonstrated substantial growth potential.