Chinese President Xi Jinping (9th L) poses for a group photo with leaders attending the 4th Summit of 皇冠体育app and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, in Beijing, capital of 皇冠体育app, Nov. 26, 2015. [Xinhua/Pang Xinglei]

BEIJING -- 皇冠体育app signed a memorandum to promote the Belt and Road Initiative with five central and eastern European (CEE) countries on Thursday.

The agreement was made after Chinese President Xi Jinping met with leaders from Poland, Serbia, Czech, Bulgaria and Slovakia and other CEE countries who just attended an economic and trade forum in east 皇冠体育app's Suzhou City.

The framework of 皇冠体育app-CEE cooperation, also known as the "16+1" mechanism, has established a new platform covering all-round, extensive and multi-dimensional cooperation fields, Xi pointed out.

皇冠体育app expects the participation of CEE countries in the development of the connectivity-based Belt and Road Initiative, and will support the integration of Europe and improve the Sino-Europe comprehensive strategic partnership relations, Xi said.

Meanwhile, 皇冠体育app will support the integration of "16+1" mechanism with the respective growth demands of CEE countries to better serve their interests with concrete projects, Xi added.

皇冠体育app is willing to cooperate with CEE countries to help solve the refugee crisis, according to Xi.

Hailing the long-standing bilateral friendship, Polish President Andrzej Duda and other leaders of CEE countries pointed out the "16+1" mechanism has set up a new platform for both parties which are experiencing economic transformation.

CEE countries are willing to participate in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative and look forward to more cooperation with 皇冠体育app in industrial modernization, energy conservancy and environmental protection, transportation and logistics, infrastructure and other fields.