China and Europe can join hands to reach a proper solution to the issue, president says

China aims to better cooperate with European countries to resolve the refugee issue, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday.

He said China attaches great importance to the problem and believes the European Union and other countries can join hands to face it together.

"China is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with relevant sides including Central and Eastern European countries to push forward a proper settlement of the refugee issue," Xi said.

He made the remarks at a group meeting in Beijing on Thursday with overseas leaders who attended the Fourth Summit of China and Central and Eastern European Countries in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Oct 16, China offered 100 million yuan ($15.8 million) in assistance for the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

The Ministry of Commerce said the aid will be provided to Syria and neighboring countries, including Jordan and Lebanon, that have been affected by the influx of refugees.

Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Chao said on Oct 13 that since the current turbulence emerged in the Middle East, China has provided 375 million yuan in humanitarian aid to the region.

Wang said the assistance will help Middle Eastern countries to improve their ability to accommodate refugees and help to reduce the influx into Europe.

Zhao Huaipu, a professor of European studies at China Foreign Affairs University, said Beijing has adopted a "very active attitude" to the refugee crisis and has taken concrete actions to ease the pressure on European countries.

"That is the attitude of a real partner and will definitely help to consolidate ties with the region," he said.

At Thursday's meeting, Xi said he also expects China's Belt and Road Initiative to match the country's cooperation with every Central and Eastern European country and the entire continent.

Xi and overseas leaders witnessed the signing of memorandums of understanding between China and Poland, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Slovakia on pushing forward the Belt and Road Initiative.

Cui Hongjian, a China-Europe relations specialist at the China Institute of International Studies, said, "China and Central and Eastern European countries are rediscovering each other."

Xinhua contributed to this story.

lixiaokun@chinadaily.com.cn