Wang Jiarui (C), head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Elmar Brok (R), chairperson of the European Parliament's Committee of Foreign Affairs and Reinhard Butikofer (L), vice president of the Greens party in the European Parliament attend the opening ceremony of the 3rd China-Europe High-Level Political Parties and Groups Forum at the European Parliament in Brussels May 29, 2012. (Xinhua/Wu Wei)

A senior official with the Communist Party of China (CPC) has called for a new type of China-EU relations where the two sides could seek further consensus and cooperation to meet the challenges ahead.

Wang Jiarui, head of the CPC Central Committee's International Department, made the remarks in a keynote speech at the third EU-China High-Level Political Parties and Groups Forum which kicked off here on Tuesday.

Wang said the new type of China-EU relations should focus on mutual respect and benefit, seeking consensus, keeping peace with each other, and enhancing dialogues and exchanges.

"As long as China and the EU focus on the big picture and look upon each other in an objective and reasonable way, the path for a new type of China-EU ties will be gradually broader," he added.

He also stressed that the CPC will continue to develop strategic communication with all political parties across Europe as an indispensable part of the larger China-EU relations.

The three-day EU-China High-Level Political Parties and Groups Forum has gathered high-level party officials from China and the EU for idea-exchanging and brainstorming, with the aim of bringing innovation into the further development of mutual ties especially at a time of multiple crises across Europe.