BUCHAREST, Oct. 15  -- The sixth session of the European-Chinese Cultural Dialogue, an event held under the aegis of the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) and the Chinese National Academy of Arts (CNAA), will kick off on Thursday at the Parliament Palace here, it was reported Wednesday.

This year's edition, coordinated by the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR), will explore the role and value of well-designed public spaces in Europe and China and how they can contribute to well-being and community building in cities, ICR Deputy Chairman Liviu Jicman said.

EUNIC representative Mary McCarthy said that event will be attended by experts from China and Europe. As many as 12 cultural institutes will contribute to the event, according to Benoit Rutten, Wallonia-Brussels delegate to Bucharest and chairman of the EUNIC Bucharest Cluster.

In an interview with Romanian official Agerpres news agency, ICR President Lilian Zamfiroiu expressed hope that "European and Chinese specialists have a successful dialogue within which they can analyze the challenges supposed by the creation of sustainable public places in the urban environment."

The European-Chinese Cultural Dialogue is held annually alternatively in Europe and China, with the first meeting held in 2008 in Beijing.