Huo Yuzhen, the special representative of the ministry of foreign affairs for China-CEEC cooperation addresses the opening ceremony in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on June 9, 2017. [Photo by Lucie Morangi/China Daily Africa]

A ceremony held in Ningbo, a port city on southeast coast of China, on Friday saw more than 100 dignitaries largely from Europe and Africa back the clarion calls for enhanced education collaboration to build robust and resilient economies in an increasingly difficult global landscape.

In her opening remarks, Huo Yuzhen, the special representative of the ministry of foreign affairs for China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) cooperation, said the 16+1 initiative is a sure strategy of intensifying cooperation in trade, science, education and culture with the European Union.

The initiative refers to mechanisms and arrangements between China and 16 central and eastern European countries.

"The backing of this cooperation by the Chinese government has taken it to a higher level, hence pushing up trade between China and Europe that has recorded a 16 percent growth despite decline in global trade," she said.

Huo said that the BRAIEC is indeed an opportunity to build a better platform for dialogue between China and other nations. "We are looking for opportunities to expand channels of cooperation. We will be holding education policy dialogues that will encourage institutions of higher learning to find ways of partnering with each other. Bilateral relations hinge on cohesion among our people," she said.

In attendance were Zong Wa, deputy director general of China Education Association of International Exchanges; Aryal Prahlad, undersecretary in the ministry of education of Nepal; Emil Boc, former prime minister of Romania; among other high-level dignitaries.