Europe should focus on attracting Chinese investment: expert

BRUSSELS - Europe should focus on attracting Chinese investments in the area of information and communication technology (ICT), said Luigi Gambardella, president of ChinaEU, a business-led association aimed at intensifying business cooperation and investment in the telecom and hi-tech spheres.

"Europe should fully understand the potential of China, especially in sectors such as the ICT," Gambardella told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"I hope Europe will be able to grasp this opportunity because China will become the most important player in the world regarding these highly value-added sectors," he said.

Europe should be more active in consolidating its partnership with China, he said. "We should work together with China attracting investments to create new jobs."

Chinese participation in the Juncker investment plan is a "generous act," and it is also a proof that Europe and its citizens can receive tangible benefits from China, Gambardella said.

Gambardella underlined the need to concentrate on the digital sector, where many small and medium enterprises are developing interesting technologies but at the same time face limited financial resources.

He proposed several specific projects for ICT cooperation between Europe and China, such as developing driverless cars.