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BEIJING, Oct. 7-- Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages from Friday to Monday respectively with his counterparts of Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties. On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, Xi extended warm congratulations and good wishes to the governments and peoples of the six Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs), which are among the first group of countries to recognize and set up diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China after its establishment on Oct.1, 1949. Over the past seven decades, China and the six countries have pushed forward their relations in line with the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and brought tangible benefits to their peoples, noted the Chinese president. Nowadays, they enjoy close high-level exchanges, fruitful cooperation in various fields and colorful people-to-people exchanges, Xi said, adding that in the new era relations between China and the six countries are facing new and broader prospects. Xi reiterated that he attaches great importance to the development of relations between China and the six countries, and stands ready to join hands with his counterparts to take the 70th anniversary as a new starting point, seize the opportunities created by Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation and China-CEEC cooperation, and lift their countries' traditional friendly and cooperative relationships to higher levels. | 
