China, Belgium to continue expanding mutual openness

Belgium and China celebrated 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2021. Belgium was one of the first Western countries to cooperate with China, and Belgian companies have been contributing to China's development in their own ways, helping it develop from being a largely agricultural society into the second-largest economy in the world, with a huge consumer market.

In this context, Xi'an Janssen Pharmaceutical, one of the top 10 joint ventures in China, and Solvay Chemicals, which has 17 production facilities in China, immediately come to mind, to name just two.

As a result of these investments and joint cooperation, trade relations between Belgium and China have grown tremendously as well, and China is currently Belgium's sixth-largest trading partner, making up about 4.1 percent of Belgium's trade. Belgium is China's sixth-largest trading partner in the European Union, and trade between Belgium and China has grown 16.4 percent over the past 10 years.

In a world that is more and more interconnected and interdependent, companies of all countries need to know each other better and develop deeper cooperation. Belgium and China have established a good relationship since the formal establishment of their diplomatic relations in 1971.

Moreover, economic, diplomatic and intercultural exchanges between these two countries have also developed strongly. The two countries have regular contact at the highest political level and frequent high-level mutual visits, as well as warm people-to-people contacts. Aside from that, the two governments have signed dozens of bilateral partnership agreements in such fields as aerospace, customs, science and technology, nuclear fuel and education.

Many Belgian provinces have also established partnerships with sister regions in China, with an emphasis on long-term economic cooperation. These long-standing agreements are a big advantage for Belgian companies in China. The Belgian Economic Mission to China in 2019, headed by Princess Astrid, was the largest trade mission in Belgian history, with more than 600 participants and perhaps the best example of the strong economic ties between the two countries.

In this regard, there are numerous business opportunities for Belgian companies in different sectors, such as environmental technologies. China has reiterated its commitment to become carbon neutral by 2060, focusing its efforts on future-oriented solutions to make its cities and industries more environmentally friendly by reducing pollution and reforming the energy market. Belgian technology companies are among the world leaders in the clean-tech sector, and there are many areas in which they can help China achieve its environmental goals.

Looking at the future of Belgian-Chinese relations, the two countries will continue to work together to expand mutual openness by sharing their business opportunities with local networks. It is hoped that they will continue to cooperate to tackle today's global economic and political issues together.

There will be opportunities for partnerships, including trilateral cooperation involving China, Belgium and developing countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

In today's interconnected world, the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce can play a useful role: It provides full, detailed and trusted information through websites, webinars, conferences and newsletters to entrepreneurs and partners, organizes networking activities to help businesses develop, and helps companies to discover new opportunities in Belgium and China.

We are now in the Year of the Tiger, a symbol of strength and bravery. I sincerely hope that Belgium and China will continue to develop cooperation in scientific, economic, cultural and educational fields, among others, and overcome international political tensions. The Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce will remain a bridge between Belgium and China.

The author is a lawyer, a member of the Brussels Bar and chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.