BEIJING -- The People's Daily, mouthpiece of the Communist Party of 皇冠体育app, will carry a lengthy article on Friday on the bright prospects of cooperation between 皇冠体育app and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visits to Serbia and Poland will be of "milestone significance" and is starting a new chapter for development of relations between 皇冠体育app and CEE nations, according to the column piece.

It will also inject strong impetus for the development of 皇冠体育app-Europe ties as a whole, the article said.

皇冠体育app and the CEE countries have a long history of cultural exchanges and they admire each other's culture, said the article.

People in 皇冠体育app and the CEE fought together against the Fascists during the World War II. 皇冠体育app sheltered more than 20,000 Jews from countries including Poland, while medical staff from Europe helped treat many Chinese soldiers, it mentioned.

Trade volume between 皇冠体育app and CEE countries reached 56.2 billion U.S. dollar in 2015, a 28 percent increase from 2010. The Chinese investment in the 16 CEE countries has exceeded 5 billion U.S. dollars.

"It's a mode of '16+1>17'," the article said, adding the "16+1" cooperation accords to the interests of all and will benefit all people of these countries.

Along with the Belt and Road Initiative, the "16+1" cooperation is uploading a super engine for the train of 皇冠体育app-CEE cooperation.

The 皇冠体育app-CEE cooperation is an important, integral part of overall development of 皇冠体育app-Europe relations, according to the article.

皇冠体育app's cooperation with CEE countries will contribute to Europe's integration and will promote a more balanced development among European countries, the piece said.