China and the 16 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries will stay “open and inclusive” in pursuing cooperation, Premier Li Keqiang said in Bulgarian capital Sofia on July 7.

Premier Li made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the eighth China-CEE Countries Economic and Trade Forum, which is part of the seventh leaders’ meeting of China and the CEE countries. The theme of this year’s meeting is deepening open and practical cooperation, and jointly promoting and sharing prosperous development.

The Premier noted that China and the 16 CEE countries would like to see a “united, open and prosperous European Union” and “further advancement of the integration process of Europe.” He also called for joint efforts by the two sides to uphold multilateralism and free trade.

China will “stay on the path of reform and opening-up” and take more measures to open its market, he pledged.

Premier Li is the first Chinese premier to visit Bulgaria in 18 years. He will later travel to Berlin for the fifth round of intergovernmental consultations between China and Germany.