The European Union and China are preparing to take their co-operation to a new level on issues relating to education, culture, youth, research and multilingualism. Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, is in Beijing to finalise plans for the launch of a "people-to-people" dialogue covering these areas. Its aim is to deepen understanding and mutual trust by supporting exchanges between the two strategic partners. Commissioner Vassiliou will meet her counterpart in the Chinese administration, State Councillor Liu Yandong, to pave the way for the new framework for cooperation, which will be officially launched before the end of the year. During her visit, the Commissioner will also hold talks with Minister of Culture, Cai Wu, and the Vice Minister of Education, Hao Ping, as well as presiding at three major events - the closing ceremony of the EU-China Year of Youth 'Future Camp' (24 October), the opening of the EU Film Festival (26 October) and the second EUChina High-Level Culture Forum (27 October), where cultural implications of urbanisation will be discussed. (RAPID, IP/11/1233, 24.10.2011)