On September 3, a large ocean-going rolling ship entered the port of Lianyungang in eastern China’s Jiangsu Province to load vehicles for export to Belgium. Photo: cnsphoto
China’s Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao vowed to promote the healthy and stable development of China-Belgium and China-EU cooperation, and called on the EU to ease trade restrictions on high-tech products.
Wang said Friday at a roundtable for Belgian companies during the Belgian prime minister’s visit to China that China is keen to expand cooperation with Europe in digital and innovative fields, and that Europe will ease export restrictions on high-tech products. He said he hopes it will be possible.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander Decroo paid an official visit to China last Thursday and Friday, marking the first visit by a Belgian prime minister to China since 2016.
The China-Belgium and China-Europe trade structures reflect multiple factors, including the overall industrial structure, market demand, and international trade conditions on both sides.
Wang said China has never pursued a trade surplus and has expanded imports from Belgium and Europe through initiatives such as the China International Import Expo.
Wang said that Europe’s suspicions of “overcapacity” related to China’s new energy sector are unfounded, as China’s new energy vehicle industry is making a positive contribution to the global green transition. .
Wang pointed out that China firmly opposes the EU’s countervailing investigation into Chinese-made electric vehicles, and that excessive government intervention in companies’ businesses brings uncertainty and risks.
“China will actively implement the agreement between the leaders of the two countries and promote cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises in China and Belgium,” Wang said.
The roundtable was the first forum organized by the Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM) under the Foreign Enterprises Roundtable Mechanism, which signifies that China pays close attention to its economic and trade relations with Europe. Wang said.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, representatives of more than 20 Belgian companies highly praised China’s response to feedback on investments and cooperation in fields such as agricultural products, biomedicine and logistics, and expressed their appreciation for China-Belgium and China-European cooperation. He expressed his desire to further promote economic and trade development.
Global Times