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| Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang addresses the opening ceremony of China-Europe People-to-People Dialogue on Friendship and Cooperation in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 14, 2011. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) |
BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called for enhanced people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges between China and Europe for stronger social foundations of their strategic cooperation partnership.
While addressing a China-Europe non-governmental dialogue launched in Beijing on Wednesday, Li said cultural exchanges connect people from different countries, and people-to-people diplomacy should serve as important part for a country's overall diplomacy.
"China-Europe people-to-people activities will help both sides to boost understanding, respect and accept each other's development path and cultural tradition, and facilitate balanced development of cultural exchanges and economic cooperation," Li said.
He called on non-governmental sectors of both sides to carry out exchange activities of various forms, and make new contributions to cementing China-Europe friendship and cooperation in the 21st century.
More than 300 delegates from China and 16 European countries gathered for the four-day dialogue to discuss how to boost non-governmental exchanges to consolidate China-Europe relations.
