Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo on Thursday called for the expansion of economic cooperation between Europe and Asia for faster national and regional economic progress.

Addressing the first Euro-Asia Economic Forum in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Wu said the Euro-Asia region, renowned for its abundant natural resources, great market potentials and colorful civilizations, is playing an increasingly important role in the promotion of world peace, development and cooperation.

The region, however, still faces many threats and challenges in security and stability, he said.

Wu said promoting coordinated economic and social development and raising people's standard of living remains the central task of various nations in the region.

He said it was important for countries in the region to open to each other economically and cooperate with each other under the new situation of economic globalization.

The prospects of economic cooperation among Euro-Asian countries are broad as they enjoy geographic advantages as neighbors and they are economically complementary, Wu said.

He said priority should be given to cooperation between Europe and Asia in the sectors of energy, tourism and environmental protection.

Describing the two continents as mutually complementary economically, Wu said nations in the two regions should give full play to the role of different governments in the region and regional organizations such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in promoting economic cooperation.

The principle for the cooperation should be that it is mutually beneficiary, open and at bilateral or multilateral levels while bringing the initiatives of the corporate sectors and localities into full play, he said.

Wu also made a brief introduction of the tremendous economic and social progress China has made since the country introduced the policies of reform and opening to the outside world, as well as China's development goals for the coming five years.

China will, as always, follow the diplomatic policies of being friendly with its neighbors and regarding its neighbors as partners, and will remain steadfast in taking the road of peaceful development, he said.

China's development brings important opportunities for various countries in the world, especially Asian and European countries, he said.

Wu said China welcomes involvement of European and Asian countries in China's western development and the revitalization of old industrial bases in northeast China.

The Chinese government will encourage and support Chinese firms to trade and invest in Asian and European nations, he said.

Tajikistan Prime Minister Akil Akilov and D.F. Mezentsev, vice-chairman of the Federal Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia, also spoke at the opening session of the forum.

Akilov said the forum serves as a platform for Asia and Europe to take concrete measures to ensure stable development of their economic cooperation, making it possible for establishing and promoting sustained business cooperation.

The prime minister said Tajikistan will go all out to support the forum and make its due contribution to the realization of the goals of the forum.

He said China's economic achievements and experience prompted its neighbors to consider ways to promote economic cooperation, and better meet the new threats and challenges in the 21st century through joining hands.

More than 1,000 officials, entrepreneurs, and experts from Europe and Asia attended Thursday's opening session of the three-day forum, whose hosts include the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and China's State Development Bank.