Vice-Premier Li Keqiang is paying a significant visit to Belgium amid a "special global backdrop", and he is expected to lay a solid foundation for another four decades of fruitful bilateral relations, said China's ambassador to Belgium Liao Liqiang.

Liao made his comments before Li's ongoing tour of Russia, Hungary, Belgium and the headquarters of the European Union. "This visit is happening against a special and important backdrop," he said.

Li's visit to Belgium is another "significant diplomatic move toward Brussels and Europe", indicating that China is putting Belgium and the EU high on its foreign relations agenda, Liao said. He made two points to explain the backdrop of Li's visit to Belgium, which began on Wednesday.

First, the international situation is undergoing complicated and deep change, with deepening globalization and increasing inter-dependency between countries. "To realize their own sustainable development and solve global problems, China and the EU must strengthen their strategic partnership," said Liao.

Second, China and Belgium have already achieved sustainable progress in all sectors and the two sides have maintained smooth communication regarding major global issues. "The bilateral relations between China and Belgium are at a new level, and we are facing important development opportunities," said Liao.

Last year, the two countries celebrated the 40th anniversary of establishing official diplomatic relations. Liao said Li's visit is expected to lay a solid base for fruitful bilateral relations for the coming four decades.

Liao said Belgium is representative of medium- and small-sized developed countries in Europe and also the heart of Europe. "Belgium has special influence in Europe and on the global stage."

The two sides have attached great importance to bilateral political trust, said Liao. Meanwhile, two-way trade and investment activities are in full swing.

"Even against the background of the European debt crisis, bilateral trade achieved a historic high of $29 billion in 2011," said Liao.

He said Chinese private investors have shown great interest in investing in Belgium. China's investment volume in Belgium has surpassed $100 million.

fujing@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/04/2012 page11)