BRUSSELS — The China-EU Children Friendship Gathering would add a new dimension to China-EU partnership and luster to the celebration of the 40th anniversary of China-EU relations, said the head of the Chinese Mission to the European Union (EU) on June 5.

Yang Yanyi, Chinese ambassador to the EU, made these remarks at the opening of the China-EU Children Friendship Gathering, which was held at the European School of Brussels IV.

At the gathering, cultural performances with Chinese characteristics, including calligraphy, tea art, Chinese food, folk dance, qigong and martial arts, attracted a lot of European students.

Friday marks the World Environment Day. Children from China and Europe jointly performed children’s musical “The Tale of the Forest”, which told a story of how animals worked together to protect the forest, drawing long applause from the audience.

“Today’s event is of special significance. We are here to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations and also to mark the 2015 Global Environment Day,” said Yang.

Yang stressed that the activity would help young participants appreciate more than ever that the enhancement of China-EU relations, promotion of the well-being of humanity and preservation and improvement of the environment ultimately rests upon the shoulders of the younger generations.

Yang spoke highly of close interactions between Chinese and European children at the event, saying that “it is only through collective efforts can we rise up to future challenges and meet the aspirations of building a stronger China-EU partnership and creating a sustainable society.”