BRUSSELS, April 15 -- The Mission of China to the EU here on Wednesday announced to launch a China-themed contest to mark the 40th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relationship.

The contest, with the theme of "China Unlimited", can be joined by participants in all of the four different categories - essay writing, photo, video and fine art. And the participation is open to people from across Europe, with no age limits and free interpretation of the topic.

"It could mean anything for anyone with an interest in China. And it aims to open up a conversation with European citizens to see how they perceive China and view the future of China-EU relations," said Jiang Xiaoyan, spokesperson for the Mission of China to the EU.

Through the "China Unlimited" contest, which will run until July 31, the Mission warmly encourages all EU citizens to engage in China-EU friendly exchanges, she said.

All selected entries to the competition will be published on the China Unlimited website, where viewers will be able to vote for their favorite pieces and decide on the shortlist for the big prize. The final selection will be made by a panel of high-level judges, and the winners announced at a high-profile event in Brussels in September.

The contest was held by the Mission of China to the EU, in collaboration with the College of Europe and Atlas International Culture.

"The 40th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties celebrated this year is a valuable opportunity to look to the future and deepen our cooperation, which also means developing our cultural understanding", said head of the Mission of China to the EU Yang Yanyi.

To celebrate the anniversary Brussels will be buzzing with China-related events in the coming months, including Qigong workshops, a Chinese film festival and a table tennis competition.