Premier Li Keqiang said “16+1” cooperation is not only beneficial to China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC), but to the European Union and Europe.

He made the remarks when addressing the opening ceremony of the eighth China-CEEC Economic and Trade Forum on July 7 in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria.

China is pleased to see a united and prosperous EU, and the European integration process being advanced continuously, which will bring benefits to both China and the world at large, the Premier said.

Premier Li said China has always been advocating multilateralism and a multipolar world structure, and Europe is an important pole regarding world peace and prosperity.

Therefore, a stable Europe will make the world more stable and balanced, hence international political democratization and economic liberalization will be pushed ahead, he added.