(According to Xinhua News Agency) A senior Chinese leader has called for efforts to forge a Euro-Asia partnership featuring peace and harmony to inject continuous vitality into regional development.

    Top advisor Jia Qinglin made the proposal at the biennial Euro-Asian Economic Forum. The Forum opened on Thursday in Xi'an in northwest China, with dignitaries from home and other countries in the region.

    This is the second Euro-Asian Economic Forum since it was inaugurated by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2005.

    The forum aims to build up a platform for economic cooperation and exchanges between Central Asia and Russia.

The opening ceremony drew a number of political and business dignitaries.

  Among them were Jia Qinglin, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body.He reviewed the achievements of the past two years.

    Jia Qinglin said, "By holding dialogues and exchanging information, the Forum has promoted further growth in regional cooperation. We're happy to see the infrastructure construction has improved. The information highway has been furthered. Convenience in trade investment has also been enhanced."

    The chairman underlined the necessity to work together as the Eurasian region undergoes changes.

    Jia Qinglin said, "Only through strengthening dialogue and cooperation,will each country be in a better position to cope with the global and regional challenges, to improve its risk-avoiding capabilities and to boost its development."

    "Enhancing cooperation for common development" is the theme of the forum.

    Participation is up this time, with about 1,400 figures from political, business and academic communities expected to take part.

    The forum has scheduled five sessions. They will cover energy, tourism, education, financing development, and regional governments cooperation.A roundtable meeting of governors and mayors will also be held.