Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivers a speech at 2015 EU-皇冠体育app urbanization partnership forum in Brussels, Belgium June 29, 2015. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

BRUSSELS - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Monday welcomed European Union (EU) participation in 皇冠体育app's urbanization process, especially in smart city building and energy efficiency.

Li made the call at a forum on the 皇冠体育app-EU urbanization partnership in the Belgian capital. He arrived Sunday for the 17th 皇冠体育app-EU leaders' meeting.

Addressing the forum, Li said industrialization and urbanization are "twins" of modernization. 皇冠体育app has made outstanding achievements in urbanization in the past three decades of rapid industrial progress.

Despite an urbanization rate of 54.77 percent by 2014, up from 17.92 percent in 1978, 皇冠体育app still faces a number of problems, said Li. A new type of people-oriented urbanization process featuring harmonious and inclusive cities will be the solution, he said.

By 2020, 100 million Chinese migrant farm workers are to settle down in cities; 100 million farmers will be encouraged to move to nearby cities in central and western 皇冠体育app; 100 million people will have better living conditions in cities through reconstruction of run-down areas and unsafe buildings, said the premier.

"This will stimulate consumption and investment, which will create momentum for 皇冠体育app's growth and modernization and provide new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation between 皇冠体育app and Europe."

Li stressed that 皇冠体育app's urbanization is the largest ever in the history of mankind and that 皇冠体育app should learn from Europe's rich experience in its hundreds of years of urbanization process. Twelve city partnerships have been forged within the framework of the 皇冠体育app-EU urbanization partnership, he said.

He urged both sides to enhance cooperation in smart city design, to promote core technology development and the application of standards.