EU official welcomes cultural exchanges

BRUSSELS - Beijing's decision on Tuesday to bolster the worldwide influence of Chinese culture will lend more impetus to cultural exchanges and help remove misconceptions between the European Union and its member countries, a top EU official has said.

Androulla Vassiliou, European commissioner for education, culture, multilingualism, sport, media and youth, said China and the EU will start to promote intercultural exchanges on a large scale in 2012 amid Beijing's resolve to have Chinese culture "spread out" after the country adopted a policy in recent years of boosting its outward investment and trade.

China's highest leadership body, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, wrapped up a four-day plenary session in Beijing on Tuesday, pledging in a communiqu to deepen reform, satisfy the people's cultural needs with quality products and strengthen international cultural exchanges.