DUBROVNIK, Croatia, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- At the 4th high-level meeting on tourism cooperation between China and 16 Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) on Wednesday, Croatian coastal city Rijeka was presented as the European Capital of Culture 2020.

"European Capital of Culture" is a prestigious title designed to highlight the richness and diversity of cultures in Europe. Rijeka, the important Croatian port in the northern Adriatic, was awarded in 2016 for its program "The Port of Diversity".

Irena Kregar Segota, Development and Strategic Partnerships Director of the project Rijeka 2020, said on Wednesday that this is a key national strategic project. She emphasized the importance of diversity which is a significant value they would like to share.

For almost two years, the city, whose population is nearly 130,000 people, is working hard in program preparations that would re-examine cultural, social and economic challenges that contemporary Europe and the world currently face.

Currently, Rijeka is building 27,200 square meters of new cultural infrastructures, preparing more than 100 tourist attractions and 1,000 cultural events.

Kregar Segota announced that many Chinese artists will perform in Rijeka in 2020 and 2021.

"We would like to invite Chinese tourists to come in Rijeka and enjoy our city and the county," Kregar Segota said at the conference in Dubrovnik.

"European Capital of Culture" initiative was developed in 1985 and so far has been awarded to more than 50 cities across the European Union.