SOPOT, Poland, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- China and Europe should strengthen dialogue and mutual understanding to promote practical cooperation in a changing world, a Polish expert on China has said.
Bogdan Goralczyk, a professor at the Centre for Europe at the University of Warsaw, told Xinhua in a recent interview on the sidelines of the 15th European Forum for New Ideas that Europe needs to better understand China, which has become a major global economic and technological power.
Goralczyk called for closer dialogue between China and the European Union (EU) to manage differences, while highlighting electric vehicles and artificial intelligence (AI) as potential areas for practical cooperation.
"Europe is still a rich market and interesting for China," he said. He added that Europe's desire to play a greater role in AI could present opportunities for China.
Beyond government talks and economic cooperation, Goralczyk emphasized the importance of strengthening mutual understanding between Chinese and European people.
Goralczyk, who visits China almost every year, praised China's visa-free policy for citizens of some European countries, saying it has made it easier for Europeans to visit China and learn more about the country firsthand.
Europeans visiting China will discover a country different from the one portrayed in some media, he added.
Goralczyk also noted growing interest in China among younger generations in Europe. He said young Europeans visiting China are witnessing its modern society and technological advances, which inspire them to learn Chinese.
He called for closer academic exchanges between China and the EU, including more Chinese participation in Erasmus+, an EU program supporting education, training and youth exchanges. ■
