China-EU High-Level Political Parties Forum

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) talks to Martin Schulz, chair of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, in Beijing, capital of China, May 16, 2011. Xi met with leaders of European political parties attending the second China-Europe High-level Political Parties Forum. [Xinhua Photo]

The China-EU High Level Political Parties Forum was inaugurated in Beijing in May 2010. Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee gave a keynote speech at the opening ceremony. Present at the forum were representatives from the Political Bureau and Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and over 50 high-level leaders and politicians of European parties and party groups of the European Parliament. They held discussions on global challenges and China-EU cooperation and also delved into topics such as the post-crisis international financial system reform and global governance, climate change and environmental protection, and the role of China-EU party cooperation in bilateral relations.

The second forum was held in May 2011 in Beijing and Tianjian. The theme was China's12th Five-Year Plan and Europe's Strategy 2020: New Opportunities and Prospects for China-Europe Cooperation. Director Liu Yunshan of the CPC Sacretariat delivered a keynote speech, and Martin Schulz, then leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament and current president of the European Parliament, and a few other delegates also addressed the forum. They agreed that the forum, as high-level dialogue in the context of changing dynamics in the EU-China relationship, would provide an important opportunity for Chinese and European party leaders to understand China-EU development strategies and substantial cooperation in the future and promote communication between parties and the long-term development of country-to-country relationships. Leaders of 31 parties from 19 European countries, one regional party and five party groups of the European Parliament participated in activities. Economic and trade talks for entrepreneurs were also held during the forum.

"China and Europe cooperate to meet challenges" was the theme for this year's forum, held in Brussels in May. The CPC delegation and about 100 delegates from regional European parties and major national parties from Europe attended the forum. Wang Jiarui, minister of the CPC Central Committee International Liaison Department, delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony. Leaders of European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, Group of the European People's Party, Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left (GUE / NGL), and European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party also gave speeches. They highly praised the strategic and practical nature of the forum and said the EU would like to work with China to make the forum an important platform for enhancing communication and practical cooperation that would contribute to the peace, prosperity and stability of the EU, China and the world.