China and Belgium established diplomatic relations on October 25, 1971.
The Chinese leaders who visited Belgium in recent years mainly include: President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Belgium in March 2014. Premier Li Keqiang attended the 17th China-EU Summit and visited Belgium in June 2015, attended the 19th China-EU Summit and paid an official visit to Belgium in June 2017, attended the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting and paid a working visit to Belgium in October 2018, etc. From the Belgium side, King Philippe visited China as Crown Prince in 2000, November 2004, June 2007, August 2008, June 2010, October 2011. After taking the oath and became the King of the Belgians, he paid a state visit to China in June 2015. Queen Mathilde of Belgium attended the activities of the Business of Design Week in Hong Kong and the Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture in Shenzhen in December 2013, and accompanied King Philippe on a state visit to China in 2015. Prime Minister Verhofstadt visited China in March 2002. Prime Minister Leterme attended the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games in August 2008, attended the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting in October, and visited the Shanghai World Expo in May 2010. Prime Minister Di Rupo attended the Dalian Summer Davos Forum in September 2013. Prime Minister Michel visited China in October 2016. Princess Astrid visited China in November 2019.
In April 2020, President Xi Jinping spoke with King Philippe on anti-epidemic cooperation. In May 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophie Wilmes. In December, Premier Li Keqiang held a video meeting with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. In February 2023, 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. In January 2024, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo paid an official visit to China. In March, Zhang Guoqing, special representative of President Xi Jinping, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, met with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo during the first Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels. In June, Ding Xuexiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, met with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo during the fifth High-Level Environment and Climate Dialogue between China and the European Union (EU) .
Bilateral trade:From January to September 2024, China-Belgium bilateral trade volume was US$29.71 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 3.1%. Among them, China's exports amounted to US$24.85 billion, the same as the previous year; imports amounted to US$4.86 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 16.7%.
Mutual investment: As of the end of April 2024, the direct investment stock of Belgian companies in China was US$2.65 billion.
Science and technology: The China-Belgium (Federation) Mixed Committee on Science and Technology has held 20 meetings since 1979. In March 2017, the first China-Belgium Science and Technology Innovation Dialogue was held in Brussels. In October 2021, the second China-Belgium Science and Technology Innovation Dialogue was held in a combination of online and offline methods.
Culture: In September 2015, the Brussels Chinese Cultural Center was officially unveiled and put into use. During the Spring Festival from 2016 to 2019, the Chinese Embassy in Belgium and the municipal governments of Brussels, Antwerp and other cities jointly held four Chinese New Year Parades. In 2020, the Chinese New Year Parade was held in Liege for the first time. From 2023 to 2024, the "Chinese Spring Festival Fair" was held in Namur and Antwerp.
Education: China and Belgium have good educational exchanges and cooperation. In September 2011, the French-speaking region of Belgium launched the "Chinese Language and Culture Project", offering Chinese and Chinese culture courses in nine primary and secondary schools. In April 2012, the Ministry of Education of China signed an education exchange agreement with the Flemish Regional Government. In 2014, the French-speaking government of Belgium decided to formally include Chinese in the middle school language curriculum. There are currently three Confucius Institutes in Belgium.
Transportation: Belgium and China have achieved full land, sea and air connectivity. The Yuxinou Railway can directly connect to Belgium. In April 2013, the largest container ship designed and built by China, the "COSCO-Belgium", made its maiden voyage to Antwerp. In April 2015, Belgium and China opened the first charter flight route for Chinese tourists in Europe. Air China Cargo, Sichuan Airlines, as well as Belgian cargo airlines such as ASL and CHG operate regular cargo flights between China and Belgium, involving cities including Brussels, Liege, Shanghai, Nanchang, Jinan, Hangzhou, Chengdu and other cities. Multiple China-Europe freight trains are operated between the two countries.
China-Belgium cooperation on giant pandas: In September 2013, Premier Li Keqiang announced when meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Di Rupo, who was in China to attend the Summer Davos Annual Meeting, that China would provide Belgium with a pair of giant pandas for cooperative research. The China Wildlife Conservation Association signed a relevant cooperation agreement with the Pairi Daiza in Belgium. The giant pandas "Xinghui" and "Haohao" arrived in Belgium in February 2014. In March of the same year, President Xi Jinping and Professor Peng Liyuan attended the opening ceremony of the Giant Panda Pavilion at the Pairi Daiza accompanied by King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and Prime Minister Di Rupo. In June 2016, the giant panda "Haohao" gave birth to a cub "Tianbao" with the assistance of Chinese experts. In September of the same year, Professor Peng Liyuan and Queen Mathilde jointly sent a letter of congratulations to the director of the Pairi Daiza in Belgium on the 100th day of the birth of the panda cub "Tianbao". In August 2019, the giant panda "Haohao" successfully gave birth to the giant panda twins "Baodi" and "Baomei". President Xi Jinping and King Philippe exchanged congratulatory messages on this.
Local cooperation: At present, there are 32 pairs of sister cities and provinces between the two countries.
Belgium has consulates general in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. China has no consular institutions in Belgium.