4. Xi meets Belgian prime minister

Xi Jinping meets with Belgian Prime Minister De Croo

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 12 (Reporter Sun Yi) – On the afternoon of January 12, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People with Belgian Prime Minister De Croo, who was in China for an official visit.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Belgium relations. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Belgium 53 years ago, cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results, benefiting the two peoples. China and Belgium are both beneficiaries of economic globalization and share common interests in resisting protectionism and safeguarding free trade. China appreciates that Mr. Prime Minister has publicly spoken out against “decoupling and disconnection” on many occasions, welcomes Belgian companies to invest and operate in China, and is willing to provide them with a good business environment. It also hopes to provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies. The two sides can combine their respective advantages to expand cooperation in traditional fields such as transportation, logistics, and biopharmaceuticals, and explore new growth points for cooperation such as green development and digital economy. Both sides should encourage government departments, legislative bodies, local provinces and cities of the two countries to strengthen exchanges and dialogues, expand two-way tourism and exchanges of international students, organize large-scale cultural activities in each other’s country, carry out research on giant panda protection, continuously enhance mutual understanding and people-to-people friendship, and inject new energy into China-Belgium relations. New impetus and new prospects. China is willing to strengthen communication with Belgium within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and cooperate on issues such as addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China maintains long-term stability in its European policy and always regards Europe as China’s partner. It hopes that Europe, as an important force in the multi-polar world, will play a positive and constructive role. Facing the turbulent international situation, more “bridges” need to be built between China and Europe. The two sides should cooperate more closely to promote an equal and orderly world multipolarization and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly promote world peace, stability, and prosperity. China is willing to work with the EU to promote steady progress in China-EU relations in the new year, and hopes that Belgium, as the rotating EU presidency, will play an active role in this regard.

De Croo said that Belgium-China relations have a long history and are at the forefront of EU-China relations in many aspects. For example, we will continue to adhere to the one-China policy. Belgium is willing to have candid dialogue with China, deepen understanding, and promote the continuous development of bilateral relations in political, economic and other fields. Belgium opposes “decoupling and breaking links”, welcomes Chinese companies to cooperate in Belgium, and hopes to strengthen personnel exchanges and cultural exchanges with China. Ten years ago, President Xi Jinping delivered a wonderful speech in Bruges during his visit to Belgium. His vivid description of “bridges” was impressive. In the current chaotic international situation, the world needs China and Europe to work together as partners and strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas such as promoting world economic growth, coping with climate change, and building a more stable world. As the rotating presidency of the EU, Belgium is willing to play a positive role in the development of EU-China relations. I hope that my visit to China will help elevate Belgium-China and EU-China relations to a new height.

Wang Yi attended the meeting.