Vice premier calls for closer Sino-Belgian ties

Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called on Chinese and Belgian authorities to further advance political, economic and cultural ties between the two countries so as to better promote Sino-Belgian relations.

In a meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, Li said relations between China and Belgium had seen vigorous development in recent years, adding that China hoped Belgium could serve as a long-term partner for cooperation, and as a "bridgehead" for China to expand Sino-EU collaborations.

He urged both sides to treat each other with political mutual respect and equality, achieve common economic prosperity through taking full advantage of their respective mutually-beneficiary and complimentary advantages, learn from each other and expand cultural communications.

Li noted Belgium's advantages in scientific and technological innovation and human resources, as well as China's robust demands in the fields of new energy, biotechnology, energy conservation, environmental protection and new materials.

Belgium was the first country in the European Union to export technologies to China, Li said, urging Belgium to take more flexible and open steps in efforts in transferring high technologies to China. He pledged to create a fair, reasonable and predictable law and policy environment for Belgian companies investing in China, so as to facilitate cooperation between Chinese and Belgian enterprises.

The vice premier also said China would continue to support the stability of the euro currency shared by 17 European nations including Belgium, and that China was confident that Europe could tide over its current difficulties.

Di Rupo, meanwhile, thanked China for its efforts in helping the European Union address the two-year-old eurozone sovereign debt crisis.

The Belgian prime minister said the country was willing to strengthen cooperation with China on the basis of mutual trust, and to improve collaboration and coordination with China in global affairs.

On Wednesday afternoon, Li also visited an electronic waste disposal plant of Umicore, a Belgium-based global materials technology group.

Li noted Belgium's advantages in electronic waste disposal technologies, and highlighted the promising prospect that China and Belgium could collaborate in this particular field.

He hoped Umicore could actively explore ways to enhance win-win cooperation with its Chinese counterparts, so as to contribute to the sustainable economic and social development both in China and in Belgium.

Belgian Crown Prince Philippe, who accompanied Li to the electronic waste disposal plant, also acknowledged that collaboration between China and Belgium in the field of sustainable development would benefit both sides and the entire world.

Belgium was willing to encourage its enterprises to cooperate with Chinese companies in order to achieve mutual benefits, he said.

Belgium is the third leg of Li's European visit, which has already taken him to Russia and Hungary.