BRUSSELS - China's 12th Five-Year Plan and Europe's 2020 Strategy share a number of mutual goals, participants said at a high-level political forum between China and Europe in Brussels Nov 8.

Themed "China's 12th Five-Year Plan and Europe's 2020 Strategy: New Opportunities and Prospects for China-Europe Cooperation", the conference is the second high-level China-Europe political forum, which held its first exchange in 2010, according to the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Wei Jianguo, Director-General of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges and former Vice-Minister of Commerce, compared the two plans in his keynote speech. He said whereas China's 12th Five-Year Plan, the most important plan at national level in China, sets general targets of economic and social development for a period of five years from 2011 to 2015, Europe's 2020 strategy does a similar job for Europe by the year 2020.

Wei Jianguo, Director-General of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges and former Vice-Minister of Commerce. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

One of the most significant similarities between the two plans, Wei said, is both China and Europe's emphasis on sustainable growth. While China has decided to transform its economic structure and mode of development for the next five years, Europe is also seeking to develop an economy based on knowledge and innovation, which it calls "smart, sustainable and inclusive" as outlined in the Europe 2020 strategy.

Stephen Hughes, Vice-President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats in the United Kingdom (S&D) directed participants to reflect the EU's five headline targets:

- 75 percent of the population aged 20-64 should be employed.

- 3 percent of the EU's GDP should be invested in research and development

- "20/20/20" – Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 percent compared to 1990; increase the share of renewable energy sources in Europe's final energy consumption to 20 percent; and a 20 percent increase in energy efficiency.

- The share of early school leavers should be under 10 percent and at least 40 percent of the younger generation should have a tertiary degree.

- 20 million fewer people should be at risk of poverty.

Stephen Hughes, Vice-President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats in the United Kingdom. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

In response to Hughes' speech, Wei said the common goals China and Europe are seeking should give both similar opinions in a global dialogue.

"That's why we need to position China-Europe cooperation at a strategic level," Wei said.