The former industrial powerhouse is looking to take advantage of existing links as its economy is restructured

Liaoning province is speeding up cooperation with Central and Eastern European countries in the hope of breathing fresh life into its economic revitalization.

Liaoning was elected chairman of the China-CEEC federation of provincial governors in October and given the responsibility of hosting the China-CEEC leaders' meeting next year. The large circle of friendly nations has brought more cooperation opportunities. So far, Liaoning and CEEC have established five pairs of "sister cities", and 11 "friendly cooperative relations".

China and 16 states collectively known as CEEC established a cooperation mechanism in 2012. On April 12, with the inclusion of Greece, it was upgraded to the "17+1" agreement. At present, the two sides have set up more than 20 communication platforms in relation to the economy, culture and education.

Liaoning attaches great importance to cooperation with CEEC and uses this as the basis for full opening-up to the outside world and participating in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, the provincial government said.

Liaoning has a population of 43.69 million and covers 148,000 square kilometers, which is equal to the combined size of Austria and Croatia. Rich in natural resources, and with abundant manufacturing facilities and industrial workers, the province was once one of the country's leaders in heavy industry.

In the 1970s, it was among the top three industrial centers along with Shanghai and Tianjin. But in the following decades its fortunes declined as it struggled to adapt to the structural reforms of the new market economy, largely because of high operating costs, falling investment and low government efficiency.

In April 2016, the central government rolled out new measures to revitalize the provincial economy. Reforms included the establishment of a free trade zone, the streamlining of administration and improvement of the business environment.