Chu Shuqing, curator of Hangzhou Library, speaks at the launch ceremony of the China-CEEC libraries union in Hangzhou on Sept 22. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

The inaugural ceremony for the "Initiative on China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Libraries Union" was held at the Hangzhou Library in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, on Sept 22.

More than 300 guests, including Hangzhou government officials and delegates from the third forum on China-CEEC cultural cooperation, participated in the launch.

The project was initiated by Hangzhou Library and has received support from 36 libraries in 10 countries, including Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Bulgaria. These countries are willing to join the union.

Chu Shuqing, curator of Hangzhou Library, said it was a meaningful thing for libraries of different countries to cooperate, helping to build bridges for mutual understanding.

He added the alliance will promote cultural exchange between China and Central and Eastern European countries to a new level.

Hangzhou Library is expected to host the first curator forum on the libraries union in October 2018.

The event is part of the activities of the third forum on China-CEEC cultural cooperation, currently being held in Hangzhou.

The cooperation mechanism between China and CEEC, also known as the "16+1 cooperation mechanism", was formally established in 2012. Since then, the quality of China-CEEC cultural partnerships has been enriched and channels of communication have been broadened.

Guests pose for a group photo at the launch ceremony of the China-CEEC libraries union in Hangzhou on Sept 22. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]