BEIJING, April 6 (Xinhua) -- China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) saw steady trade growth last year as cooperation between the two sides strengthened.

Bilateral trade reached 82.23 billion U.S. dollars last year, up 21 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

China's exports to the CEEC totaled 59.19 billion dollars last year, while imports reached 23.04 billion dollars, up 19.6 percent and 24.6 percent respectively, said MOC spokesperson Gao Feng.

Investment between the two sides also expanded. Chinese firms have invested over 10 billion dollars in the CEEC, while receiving more than 1.5 billion dollars from them. Bilateral investment covers sectors including auto parts, chemicals, finance and medicine.

China is willing to deepen economic and trade cooperation with the CEEC and further align the Belt and Road Initiative with CEEC national development strategies to seek win-win partnership, Gao said.