EU, China hold round table meeting to discuss Belt and Road Initiative

BRUSSELS - Consultative bodies of China and the European Union (EU) hold a bilateral round table meeting here on Wednesday, exchanging views on China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative and seeking their common ground and best practices.

The ongoing 14th EU-China Civil Society Round Table meeting will discuss infrastructure and investment in the framework of China's Belt and Road Initiative and the newly-established Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), according to the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) which hosts the meeting.

The EESC, the EU's consultative body to the bloc's three institutions, namely the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament, is joined by its Chinese counterpart the China Economic and Social Council (CESC).

The closed-door meeting will also discuss innovation and economic development in rural areas and is set to approve and publish a joint statement on Thursday, the EESC said.

China and EU announced to cooperate on synergies between the Belt and Road Initiative and the European Investment Plan last year. The two sides also mull to speed up their financial cooperation under the two projects through enhancing coordination between European Investment Bank and the AIIB.

Beijing and Brussels agreed to set up the EU-China Round Table in 2007 following a decision taken by the 9th EU-China Summit attended by top leaders of both sides. The Round Table meets twice a year to discuss topics relating to economic and social issues relevant to both parties.

The representatives of the EESC and the CESC, by elaborating reports and exchanging ideas, contribute to the development of the EU-China relationship, from a civil society perspective, the EESC said.