In order to implement the consensus reached at the China-CEEC Summit in February 2021, the Department of International Cooperation and the Department of Foreign Expert Services at the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology, and Ningbo Municipal People’s Government jointly held the 2nd China-CEEC Forum for Young Science & Technology Talents and the 1st China-CEEC Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in Ningbo on the afternoon of May 19, 2023. The first China-CEEC Forum for Young Science & Technology Talents was also held in Ningbo in September 2021.

　　The forum is themed on “innovative youth share the future”. Sun Jian, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation at the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, made a keynote speech on behalf of Vice Minister Zhang Guangjun. Peter Lizak, Ambassador of Slovakia to China, Ivica Šušak, State Secretary at the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education, Vukasin Grozdic, State Secretary at the Serbia Ministry of Science, Technology Development and Innovation, and Tang Feifan, Mayor of Ningbo City, spoke at the forum. About 200 representatives from CEEC embassies, government departments, research institutes, universities and companies attended the forum.

　　The awarding ceremony for the 1st China-CEEC Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition was held at the forum along with the release of China (Cities) - CEEC Open Innovation Cooperation Index. A briefing was made to present measures that aim to promote exchanges between Chinese and foreign scientists.