Belgian Prime Minister's Multi-Message Visit to China

Arriving in Beijing on a visit from January 11-12, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo not only represents Brussels, but also brings a voice to the region.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo in Beijing on January 12 as the two countries celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Friendly and Cooperative Partnership. (Source: Xinhua)

As one of the six founding members of the European Community, the predecessor of the European Union (EU), Belgium also has its capital Brussels, which is the headquarters of the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Therefore, Belgium is often called the "Capital of Europe" or "Heart of Europe". All of this shows the growing influence of the Central European country in the regional power system.

In early 2024, Mr. Alexander De Croo became the first Belgian Prime Minister to visit China in 8 years. As the rotating EU President and the first European leader to visit China this year, what message does the Belgian Prime Minister's visit to Beijing convey?

Two in one

Mr. Feng Zhongping, Director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and President of the Europe-China Association, assessed that the visit contained many messages.

First of all , it reflects the multi-sectoral and multi-level characteristics of China-Belgium and China-EU relations. Holding two positions - both as Prime Minister of Belgium and as the rotating EU Presidency, Mr. Alexander De Croo's visit is both a bilateral visit and a high-level exchange on behalf of the EU with its partners. In particular, 2024 also marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Belgium Comprehensive Friendly and Cooperative Partnership.

Second, the visit reflects the fact that China-Belgium and China-EU relations are entering a new phase of stable and sound development. As for China-Belgium relations, it is a model of friendship and mutual benefit between two countries with different political systems.

The history of bilateral relations is rich in special features. In 1971, the leaders of China and Belgium overcame the ideological barriers of the Cold War to establish diplomatic relations, demonstrating a strategic political vision that transcended the framework of the times.

The development of bilateral relations is closely linked to Beijing's modernization process. In 1978, Beijing's reform and opening-up policy created a framework for cooperation with the capitalist world for the first time. Accordingly, Belgium became the first Western country to provide loans, export advanced technology and establish an industrial investment fund with China.

Regarding China-EU relations, the visit continues the momentum of high-level contacts between the two sides in recent times, and demonstrates the importance of the EU to China despite the many challenges both sides face, especially in the context of 2023 when two major conflicts are emerging in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, a prolonged economic recession, and non-traditional challenges that have a negative impact on social order and people's confidence.

The Belgian Prime Minister will be responsible for coordinating the EU's agenda for the first half of 2024. Mr. De Croo's choice of China as his first overseas trip at the start of his rotating presidency demonstrates that Beijing is an important partner for the organization in responding to global economic and security challenges.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (third from left) and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (third from right) at the inauguration ceremony of the Belgian Embassy in Beijing, January 11. (Source: Chinese Foreign Ministry)

Both cooperation and competition

According to the announcement of the Belgian Prime Minister's Office, the visit focuses on two important issues. First , the two countries aim to develop a plan to promote China-Belgium and China-EU relations in the future. Previously, due to the impact of the epidemic, the Ukraine conflict and other factors, the relationship between the two sides encountered many obstacles. However, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo's visit to Beijing is expected to give momentum to the stable development of China-Belgium and China-EU relations in the coming time.

Second , the two countries seek cooperation in areas of mutual interest, especially expanding opportunities for economic and trade cooperation. Furthermore, the two sides strive to reconcile differences and conflicts that exist in bilateral relations.

On a bilateral level, Brussels is China's seventh-largest trading partner within the EU and Beijing is Belgium's third-largest trading partner outside the EU (as of 2022). From January to November 2023, bilateral trade between the two countries is expected to reach $40.6 billion, up from $27.27 billion in 2014.

Many Chinese companies now play a major role in the Belgian economy. For example, Geely owns the Volvo car factory in Ghent; COSCO Shipping Lines operates the port of Zeebrugge, Europe’s largest export port.

On the other hand, relying on technical advantages and competitiveness, famous Belgian companies such as Solvay and Bekaert have entered the Chinese market and earned significant profits.

At the regional level, economic issues have recently taken center stage amid a number of trade conflicts. In October 2023, the EU launched an anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles. Earlier this year, Beijing launched an anti-dumping investigation into distilled spirits imported from the EU. Therefore, the visit is expected to “break the ice” in trade and investment activities between the parties.

During his meeting with Mr. De Croo on January 12, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that both countries benefit from the trend of economic globalization, promote free trade and oppose protectionism. Mr. Xi Jinping welcomed the investment activities of Belgian companies in China, affirming his readiness to provide a healthy, fair and transparent business environment for partners.

He also expected Belgium, in its role as rotating EU President, to actively build Europe as an important force in the multipolar world. Especially in the unpredictable and complicated context of the world situation, China and Europe need to establish more “bridges” to better promote global peace, stability and prosperity.

Meanwhile, the Belgian Prime Minister welcomed Chinese enterprises to enter the Belgian market and hoped to increase personnel and cultural exchanges. In a volatile international context, China and Europe need to work together to promote global economic growth and address climate change.

Mr. De Croo further affirmed that Belgium, as the rotating President, is ready to play an active role in developing EU-China relations and hopes that the visit will help enhance Belgium-China and EU-China relations.

Assessing the prospects of bilateral relations, Mr. Feng Zhongping emphasized that in the future, cooperation, competition and prevention will coexist, and the importance and complexity of the relations will also increase. However, Mr. Feng Zhongping still has high expectations for China-EU and China-Belgium relations in 2024, believing that the parties will cooperate well and actively on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit.

Although cooperation and competition are always intertwined, international scholars expect relations between the parties in 2024 to progress positively on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/chuyen-cong-du-da-thong-diep-cua-thu-tuong-bi-toi-trung-quoc-257178.html