Editor's note: As the EU-China Managers Exchange and Training Programme (METP) comes to an end, China Daily reporters Yang Cheng and Chai Hua interviewed Xu Liang, project director, who administrators said "was the person who has made committed efforts, mastered every step and had the deepest insights into the program".

Q: Can you share some of the METP's major achievements over the past five years?

A: In terms of numbers and levels of bilateral communication, the METP set records.

The first of its kind in bilateral exchanges, the program helped students gain first-hand and in-depth experience through internships in different business environments, both in China and Europe.

Since its inception, we thought the program should be high profile and comprehensive.

In particular, the event had great achievements in intercultural training - we term it ICT.

As well, throughout all the sessions we continued to adjust and optimize the curriculum.

All classes were designed to keep abreast of the times. We held a lot of training related to the Olympics Games and World Expo.

From the first session to the last, the number of internship companies expanded to more European countries.

Q: What are the significant implications of the program in boosting Sino-EU ties?

A: European countries gained new professional managers who now have deep insights into China. For China, more professional managers are now keen to boost trade with Europe.

I believe the participants will influence their colleagues, business partners and employees of their companies.

They will also bring the work habits and business norms developed in their internships in China or Europe to their daily work, better enhancing Sino-European communications.

I have a number of prime examples:

A participant from Chongqing who before ran a small-sized business was promoted to chief delegate for the Antwerp Port Authority in China. His training and excellent internship performance in Europe impressed the employer from Belgium.

Another is a car agent from Inner Mongolia who boosted his career by entering the management level of auto giant BMW.

Q: According to the impact survey of the program, the findings showed high level of satisfaction. What do you think were the keys to success?

A: First, I think China and Europe had a good partnership. We stuck to the principle of "seeking common ground while preserving differences".

We were committed to rational solutions and achieved good results.

Second, I would like to praise my efficient team of seven people who were found through open examination and recruitment.

Sometimes when we were busy, three others would join on temporary basis.

I was lucky to work with these professional, competent and conscientious staff members.

Third, we gained sound support from five European cooperation organizations and three from China.

The China Council for Promotion of International Trade was a key party.

The Delegation of the European Union to China, the group of European business schools led by the ESCP European School of Management, the Ministry of Commerce in China, and the University of International Business and Economics in China all gave full support to the five-year project.