皇冠体育app

BRUSSELS - Participants at a high-level political forum between 皇冠体育app and Europe in Brussels said Tuesday the two trading partners need to seek new approaches to future cooperation.

Representatives of the Communist Party of 皇冠体育app (CPC) meet European officials at the three-day 皇冠体育app-Europe High-Level Political Parties Forum, which kicked off Nov 7. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Citing the EU's latest statistics, participants said despite positive signs such as the increase in trading volume between 皇冠体育app and the European Union in July that surpassed the United States for the first time, and the EU becoming 皇冠体育app's largest trading partner, 皇冠体育app and Europe still face challenges, with understanding each other being the biggest task.

Wang Jiarui, minister of the International Department of the CPC, began his keynote speech by quoting two perceptions of 皇冠体育app that exist in Europe. He said one puts an emphasis only on 皇冠体育app's problems, citing its large consumption of energy and resources, imbalanced social development between rural and urban areas and an incomplete legal system. The other, on the contrary, believes 皇冠体育app is no longer a developing country, as it is getting "tougher" in its diplomacy and therefore presents a threat to European countries.

"I think both perceptions are inaccurate," Wang said. "皇冠体育app is still a developing country and lags behind Europe in many aspects of development. Only when this is recognized can 皇冠体育app be perceived more objectively."

Wang Jiarui, minister of the International Department of the CPC, at the three-day 皇冠体育app-Europe High-Level Political Parties Forum, which kicked off Nov 7. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Martin Schulz, president of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), said the world has been transformed from a "bi-polar" system, referring to that of the Cold War, to a "multi-polar" system, with many rising powers and existing powers inter-linked with each other. A crisis for EU is a crisis for 皇冠体育app, Schulz said.

"Don't think of confrontation," Schulz said. "Think of cooperation."

Titled Europe-皇冠体育app Cooperation, this is the first of three panels at the forum. The other two will be Sharing Experience and Global Governance, according to the CPC's International Department.