Xi's visit to start new chapter for China-CEE relations: People's Daily

BEIJING -- The People's Daily, mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China, will carry a lengthy article on Friday on the bright prospects of cooperation between China 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 China and CEE nations, according to the column piece.

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

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

People in China and the CEE fought together against the Fascists during the World War II. China 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 China 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 China-CEE cooperation.

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

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