XI'AN - A senior Chinese leader on Friday called for jointly creating a new era of cooperation between Europe and Asia to see the countries through the complex situation of the uncertainty of the world's economic recovery.

While addressing the opening ceremony of the 2011 Euro-Asia Economic Forum in Xi'an, capital city of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the cooperation of nations from the Euro-Asia region - one of the world's most advanced regions, renowned for its robust economy and multiculturalism - is bound to be comprehensive and keep pace with the times.

"The forum, initiated by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), indicates the SCO's respect for cultural diversity and its purpose for common development," Li said.

Li hailed the growth of the forum, which was initiated in 2005, saying the consensus that will be reached during the two-day meeting will signify the establishment of a partnership among all participants.

In the context of the tumbling international financial market and the fragile recovery of the world economy, all Euro-Asia states should expand cooperation to jointly tackle the current difficulties, he said.

Li proposed that the countries involved speed up regional economic integration and deepen cooperation in the energy, new-and-high technology, and humanitarian sectors as well as other spheres related to people's livelihoods.

"As the rotating chair of the SCO, China will take substantial measures to push for the common development and prosperity of the region, and will integrate its own development with the needs of other countries in the region," he said.

China's policy of developing its western regions and upgrading its own economy will produce many more opportunities for regional cooperation, he noted.

During a meeting with some foreign politicians ahead of the opening ceremony, Li also called on Euro-Asia states to transform their economic development mode, bolster the real economy with the help of science and technology, speed up regional cooperation and enhance anti-risk capability.

A total of 36 activities are set to be launched at the forum, including a plenary meeting, five parallel meetings with sub-themes on finance, energy, culture and education and tourism, and the 2011 Euro-Asia ecological safety meeting.

About 900 officials, entrepreneurs, academics and experts from Europe and Asia attended Friday's opening session of the forum, whose hosts include the SCO Secretariat, the SCO Business Council, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the secretariat of the Eurasian Economic Community, a series of Chinese ministries and central commissions, and the Shaanxi provincial government.

The forum serves as an open and high-level platform for economic dialogue between European and Asian regions under the responsibility of the SCO.

During the two-day forum, parties will exchange views on regional economic cooperation and promote common development and prosperity.

The biennial Euro-Asia Economic Forum was first launched in Xi'an in 2005, and the city was named the permanent venue for the forum in April 2007. This year's forum is the fourth session of the event.