Visiting Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the third Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC)-China health ministers' forum in Budapest, Hungary on June 19, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

BUDAPEST - Visiting Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong said on Monday that the mechanism of "16+1 cooperation" between China and the Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) is fruitful, and has shown strong vitality since its establishment five years ago.

Liu made the remarks while attending the opening ceremony of the third CEEC-China health ministers' forum in Budapest along with Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has pointed out that China sees the 16+1 cooperation between China and 16 Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries as an important gateway to incorporate the Belt and Road Initiative into the European economic circle, Liu noted.

She said China is accelerating the construction of a healthier China, and CEE countries are the link of cooperation between Asia and Europe. Deepening the health cooperation between China and CEE countries will not only help to meet global health challenges, but also promote Sino-EU cooperation and the construction of a "healthy silk Road," Liu said.

Liu added that over the past two years, the 16+1 health cooperation mechanism has become more mature, featuring multi-regional exchanges and that the level of cooperation became gradually deeper, in several areas.

She expressed hope that China and CEE countries will continue to align their policies and deepen pragmatic cooperation in health areas, creating a new situation in China-CEE countries to make greater contributions to the health and well-being of all people and to building a community of common destiny.

During the forum, the Budapest Declaration of the third CEEC-China health ministers' forum was launched.