[Photo/chinaso.com]

Premier Li Keqiang and his Bulgarian counterpart, Boyko Borisov, on Nov 13 sent congratulatory messages separately to the second cultural cooperation forum between China and countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), which opened on Nov 13 in Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia.

In his message, Premier Li described culture as "a powerful force that touches every soul across time and space", and said China and the 16 CEE countries enjoy a long history and splendid culture.

"In recent years, along with enhanced political trust and pragmatic cooperation, the two sides also have boosted cultural exchanges, which play an indispensable role in bilateral relations," he said.

The Premier said that China is seeking international cooperation on industrial capacity by promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, which can help CEE countries develop infrastructure.

"The huge cooperation between the two sides, if tapped, will help complement each other," the Premier said. He encouraged forum representatives to exchange candid dialogue and enhance friendship.

Borisov said the "16+1" cooperation framework has increased economic, cultural and local cooperation among related countries, which further complements relations between China and European countries.

"Cultural diversity and dialogues can help countries to respond to challenges, eliminate barriers and stimulate cooperation in other areas," he said.