BEIJING — Trade between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) jumped 50.2 percent to $30.13 billion in the first quarter of 2021, an official said on May 12.

Ren Hongbin, assistant minister of commerce, told a press conference that China's imports from CEECs reached $8.17 billion in the period, up 44.7 percent year-on-year.

The country also plans to import goods worth $170 billion from CEECs in the next five years, according to Ren.

Bucking a global downturn, the China-CEEC trade expanded 8.4 percent year-on-year to $103.45 billion last year, Ren said, adding that the bilateral trade maintained an average annual growth of 8 percent between 2012 and 2020.

Looking ahead, Ren said that China will further increase imports and promote the balance of trade via platforms such as the China-CEEC Expo and the China International Import Expo.

The second China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair will be held from June 8 to 11 in the eastern city of Ningbo, Zhejiang province. It is expected to attract more than 2,000 guests and 6,000 domestic purchasers.