The 5th China-Europe High-level Political Parties Forum kicks off in Beijing on Tuesday. (People’s Daily Online/Yao Chun)

Beijing, May 16 (People’s Daily Online) -- At present the China-Europe relationship has entered a key stage of boosting efficiency and improving quality, said Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, in a keynote speech on Tuesday.

Song Tao made the remarks at the 5th China-Europe High-level Political Parties Forum, which kicked off in Beijing on Tuesday with the theme of Forging Partnership for Reform and Development: New Prospect of China-Europe Cooperation.

Song Tao highlighted the importance of exchanges between parties of China and Europe when delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the conference, saying: “It plays an important and unique role in promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Europe.”

Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, delivers a keynote speech at the 5th China-Europe High-level Political Parties Forum on Tuesday. (People’s Daily Online/Yao Chun)

Song Tao believed that cooperation between China and Europe is of great potential. “China and Europe are building partnerships for peace, growth, reform and civilization. At the same time China and Europe are seeking developing path that are suitable for our own conditions.” Song Tao said: ” Communist Party of China has proposed the development concepts of innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing. The One Belt One Road initiatives proposed by China have many inherent similarities with the development concept of European countries, which offers new opportunities for deepening China-Europe Cooperation.“

Song’s observations were echoed by foreign representatives who attended the forum. Yanaki Stoilov, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria and Vice President of the Bulgarian Socialist Party said: “The open development gets a new opportunity along the Silk Road – “One Belt, One Road“. China’s opening has been one of the pillars of its success in the past almost three decades.”

Yanaki Stoilov, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria and Vice President of the Bulgarian Socialist Party, delivers a speech at the 5th China-Europe High-level Political Parties Forum on Tuesday. (People’s Daily Online/Yao Chun)

“The time is ripe for Europe to start studying, transferring and utilizing some of the Chinese practices. Therefore the process is already a two-way one–from Europe to China and from China to Europe. This forum is very useful. It can turn into one of the strong silk threads connecting us.” said Yanaki Stoilov in his speech during the forum.

More than one hundred representatives including delegates of 30 political parties from 24 European countries have attended the forum.