Prime Minister Alexander De Croo of Belgium Meets with Wang Yi

On February 18, 2023 local time, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo met with Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi on the margins of the Munich Security Conference.

Wang Yi said that China-Belgium relations have maintained the sound momentum of development, with bilateral trade volume hitting new highs and continuous new progresses of mutually beneficial cooperation. This serves the common interests of the two countries and is also a positive factor in the development of China-EU relations. As China has successfully put the pandemic under control, it is seeing strong economic recovery, which will bring greater opportunities for China-Belgium cooperation. We appreciate that Mr. Prime Minister advocates openness and cooperation, and opposes attempts to decouple and sever industrial and supply chains, conveying a rational and responsible voice of Europe. China is ready to work with Belgium to resolutely defend an open and orderly international trade environment rather than a divided and chaotic one. China expects Belgium, a founding member of the European Union (EU), to continue its constructive role in the development of China-EU relations.

Stressing that the Taiwan question bears on China's core interests, Wang Yi said China appreciates the Belgian government's commitment to the one-China principle and hopes that Belgium will properly handle Taiwan-related issues.

De Croo said that Belgium and China have always maintained close communication and exchanges. Belgium attaches importance to its relations with China, will firmly pursue the one-China policy, and hopes to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, civil aviation, new energy and more.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine issue.

On the same day, Wang Yi also met with the Netherlands' Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of  Wopke Hoekstra, Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Micheál Martin, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles, the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly, Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Austria's  Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.