Liao Liqiang, China’s Ambassador to Belgium, discusses ties between the two countries.
European Times: Can you describe relations between China and Belgium?
Liao Liqiang: China and Belgium, after a centuries-long history of productive exchanges, officially established diplomatic ties in 1971 and for over 40 years the two countries have consolidated friendly and cooperative relations on the basis of mutual respect and equality. Leaders of both sides have worked together to build productive bilateral relations in various fields. The two countries respect each other and accommodate each other’s core interests and major concerns. Belgium was one of the first western countries to establish diplomatic relations with China, the first to export advanced technologies to China, the first to provide government loans and the first to establish industrial-cooperation funds with China; the two countries have set up three joint industrial funds so far. Belgium stands for the principle of free trade, opposes trade protectionism, and played a positive role in settling trade disputes between China and the EU. China regards Belgium as a bridge to Europe.
European Times: What are some trends in bilateral trade?
Liao Liqiang: China-Belgium trade rose from around €14.6 million in 1971 to around €19.3 billion in 2012, a thousand-fold increase. Belgium is China’s sixth-largest trading partner in the EU, while China is Belgium’s second-largest trading partner outside the EU. Two-way investment has become increasingly active in recent years. Belgian investment in China has reached €945 million, and China has become Belgium’s largest investment destination in Asia. Chinese investment in Belgium is growing rapidly as well and has exceeded €439.6 million. The two countries also cooperate in financial services, ports, logistics and high technology. In addition, cultural and educational exchanges between China and Belgium are flourishing and the establishment of Chinese cultural centres in Belgium has brought the two countries’ cultural ties to a new level.
European Times: What is the future of China-Belgium relations?
Liao Liqiang: The two countries’ industries are highly complementary, and Belgium and China have great opportunities to strengthen their cooperation in such fields as microelectronics, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, environmental protection, sustainable development, green agriculture, SMEs, finance, telecommunications, and two-way investment. Combining China’s capital and market strength with Belgium’s technology and talent benefits both countries. China and Belgium are currently involved in discussions on visa policy to facilitate even more exchanges and cooperation between the enterprises, universities, students, researchers and tourists of our two countries.
