On March 16, 2023, Ambassador Fu Cong, Head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, attended a meeting hosted by the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (BCECC) and delivered a keynote speech. Mr. Peng Gang, Minister of the Chinese Mission to the EU, was present.

Ambassador Fu said that an important message from the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the just-concluded “Two Sessions” is the continuity and stability of China’s internal and external policies in the long run. The year 2023 marks the 45th anniversary of the launch of China’s reform and opening up, which has enabled China to develop itself and also made an impact on the whole world. No matter how the external situation may evolve, China will stay firmly committed to pursuing this reform and opening up as a basic state policy. China will further expand opening up in alignment with high-standard international trade rules. China will only open itself wider to the world, and provide a better environment and better services to all, offering new opportunities to foreign investors and entrepreneurs in China. The pursuit of Chinese modernization will enrich and open up new prospects for China-Belgium and China-EU cooperation.

Ambassador Fu noted that stability and continuity are the two keywords of China’s external policies. The year 2023 also marks the 20th anniversary of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. Friendship remains the underlying theme of China’s policy on the EU, and cooperation the overarching goal. He hoped that friends from business communities seize new opportunities in the new era and seek for open, win-win cooperation, continuing to contribute to China-EU practical cooperation and inject new impetus into China-EU relations.

BCECC Board Member Erik Famaey congratulated Ambassador Fu for assuming the new role. He said that BCECC and all of its member businesses have all along attached great importance to the Chinese market. They hope to deepen practical cooperation and enhance the China-Belgium and China-EU relationship.

Ambassador Fu also had in-depth and candid exchanges with the participants on such issues as China’s economic prospect and opening up, China-EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, and cooperation on the China-Europe Railway Express and Traditional Chinese Medicine.