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The push for closer cooperation with CEEC members in recent years has been led by Tang Yijun, governor of Liaoning.

Tang called for the coastal province to be turned into a demonstration zone between China and CEEC through investment, transportation links and cultural exchanges.

"CEEC has a lot of goods we need, such as high-quality machinery, agricultural products and food," Tang said in an earlier interview.

"We have many advantages in infrastructure construction, manufacturing and modern agriculture. The cooperation is win-win."

According to data from the Liaoning Commerce Department, imports and exports between Liaoning and CEEC last year reached 15.7 billion yuan ($3.32 billion), an increase of 32 percent year-on-year.

Liaoning entrepreneurs have established international industrial parks in Romania, Serbia and the Czech Republic.

Zhou Liandong, manager of Yingkou Yuyuan Industrial said the company's Romanian industrial park has been approved as a Liaoning provincial overseas economic and trade cooperation zone. His company manufactures textiles and garments, chemical fibers and plastics, building materials and electric vehicles.