Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will kick off his working visit to Belgium on Wednesday after an official visit to the Netherlands. His tours come amid China's efforts to boost economic and trade ties with Europe against the backdrop of rising unilateralism and protectionism in the world.
During the visit, both sides will make in-depth exchanges of views on China-Belgium relations, China-EU relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern, in a bid to push China-Belgium relations for robust development, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
A reliable partner of China in Europe
China established diplomatic relations with Belgium on October 25, 1971. Since 2000, the two countries have maintained close high-level interactions.
The steady development of China-Belgium relations was based on mutual respect, equality and caring for each other's core interests, then Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of China-Belgium diplomatic ties in 2011.
China and Belgium decided to upgrade their relations to an all-round partnership of friendship and cooperation during President Xi's state visit to Belgium in 2014. The next year, King Philippe of Belgium traveled to China for a week-long state visit at Xi's invitation.
"The China-Belgium relationship is at its height after years of smooth development," Xi told King Philippe, noting that China regards Belgium as an important partner in the European Union.
King Philippe said Belgium is a reliable partner of China in Europe and will act as a bridge between the two sides.
With the EU headquartered in Brussels, Belgium plays a vital role in European affairs and will promote the docking between the investment plan for Europe and China's Belt and Road Initiative, he added.
China also plays an important role in supporting the process of European integration and construction of the Eurozone, the Belgian king told Xi.
During his previous visit to Belgium in June 2017, the Chinese premier also called on the country to play a positive role in promoting the EU's fulfillment of its commitment in Article 15 of the Protocol on China's Accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to create conditions for the healthy and steady development of China-Europe relations.
China, Belgium enjoy fruitful economic and trade cooperation
Belgium is China's sixth largest trading partner in the EU. The bilateral trade volume once exceeded 30 billion US dollars.
Belgium has actively carried out project investment in China in fields such as medicine, equipment, and chemical and IT industries.
The two sides have worked together on a number of joint ventures and created some well-known brands in China, including Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical and Guangzhou Zhujiang Brewery Group.
Belgium is also an active partner of China in financial sectors. It was the first Western country to provide China with interest-free loans and also the first country to establish an industrial cooperation fund with China.
In November 2004, China-Belgium Direct Equity Investment Fund, the first industrial investment fund between the two, was established. Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China opened branches in Brussels in 2011.
The reinforced cooperation between China and the EU as well as between China and EU member states will add more positive factors to global stability and development as well as inject more positive energy into the recovery of the world economy, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao said at a press briefing on October 9.
