SKOPJE — The two-day 4th Ministerial Forum on Cultural Cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) concluded in Skopje on Nov 26.

The event has opened a new chapter in international cultural cooperation, said Prime Minister of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev when attending the forum, adding that his country supports the initiative.

"This initiative is a great opportunity for all of us ... to join and all together to contribute to the advancement of our relations, both on the bilateral and multilateral level," said Zaev.

Minister of Culture of North Macedonia Hysni Ismaili said that the launch of the online platform will boost cooperation between member countries of the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism.

As one of the most important projects of the Cultural Cooperation Coordination Center established in March 2018 in Skopje, capital of North Macedonia, Ismaili said that the platform "will be a powerful driver" of the communication between member countries of the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism.

Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Luo Shugang said art and culture are a great heritage for both China and the CEECs, adding that China is always ready to join forces with the CEECs to enhance cooperation.

"I expect future joint efforts to build stronger partnerships and deliver concrete results in '17+1' cultural cooperation," he said. "The cooperation should be more innovative with culture being linked to other areas including tourism, commerce, sports and the health sector in order to offer a more enjoyable cultural experience."

Representatives from China and the CEECs agreed to fully implement the outcomes of the forum, and further promote the continuous development of cultural exchanges and cooperation.