China and central-east Europe can complement each other's development and can be partners in progress, said Ma Zhengang, chairman of the China National Committee of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific and former ambassador of China to the United Kingdom.

He made the remarks during Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries on Monday. Li called for deeper practical cooperation ahead of a key meeting with leaders of the 16 countries.

The 16th China-EU Summit in Beijing has just finished and China signed a number of agreements with the 28-country bloc.

"China wants to develop good relationships with the whole of Europe," Ma said.

"The EU can't represent all the European countries. So, while we attach importance to our relationship with the EU at the same time we also have relations with the CEE countries," Ma explained.

He believed that closer cooperation between China and the CEE is the result of natural progress.

"CEE countries are not a formal group, but they are from same area have many things in common," he explained.

They are less developed than the United States and the northern European countries. They have strong expectations and a desire for development, and in this China can be a good partner, Ma said.

Along with China's further reform and opening-up, the CEE naturally wants to have more resources and cooperation from China and build a good partnership, he added.