HAMBURG, Germany, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- The sixth Hamburg Summit kicked off here on Friday, drawing a fleet of political, economic and academic leaders to discuss key issues in China-Europe economic relations.
Over 500 participants from China and Europe gathered for the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce on Friday and Saturday to exchange views through 10 keynote speeches and panel discussions.
Among European attendees are European Parliament President Martin Schulz, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Prime Minister of Luxemburg Xavier Bettel.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is scheduled to attend the summit on Saturday and give a speech.
Topics to be discussed at the summit include future of bilateral trade cooperation, China's increasing investment in Europe, urbanization as part of Chinese reform strategy, China's greening economy and how to increase the popularity of Chinese brands.
"We do need more exchange," President of Hamburg Chamber of Commerce Fritz Horst Melsheimer said at the opening speech, adding that both China and Europe are seeking sustainable solutions to the challenges.
This Hamburg Summit is an excellent opportunity to take a closer look at the reforms Beijing decided upon November last year and on their implementation, Melsheimer said.
"These questions are of utmost importance not only for China and Europe, but also for the whole world," he added.
"Economic and trade relations between China and Europe are among the most vibrant relations of the largest scale in the world," said Chairman of the China Federation of Industrial Economics Li Yizhong, who is leading the largest-ever Chinese delegation to the meeting.
China and Europe "are seeking the best mode of cooperation to achieve mutual development and successful economic transition," Li said, noting that China needs "European quality" and "European technology" while Europe's development calls for "Chinese market" and "China speed".
"2014 ushers in a new decade of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU. The economic and trade cooperation is about to make brand new headway from this new historic starting point," he said.
Initiated by the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce in 2004, Hamburg Summit now serves as an important platform for open dialogue between China and Europe with an aim to enhance mutual understanding and to improve their economic relations.