On November 26, 2020, Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with the new Belgium Ambassador to China Jan Hoogmartens at his request.

Qin Gang said that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Belgium. China is willing to take this opportunity to work with Belgium and bring the China-Belgium relations to a new stage. With the current profound readjustment of the international situation, the European views of China are also changing. Perception determines attitude, and attitude determines actions. China's development is an opportunity, rather than a challenge, to Europe. He hopes China and Europe will make collaborative efforts to show mutual respect, increase mutual understanding, perception and trust, and follow the consensus reached by the leaders of two countries to uphold peaceful coexistence, openness, cooperation, multilateralism, dialogue and consultation, and promote the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations. He also hopes that Belgium will play a positive and constructive role in this regard.

Jan Hoogmartens said that Belgium attaches great importance to its relations with China, and hopes to increase high-level exchanges and deepen practical cooperation with China, and make joint preparations for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Europe stands ready to develop constructive relations with China, and believes both sides should strengthen dialogue and contact rather than confrontation, and improve openness and cooperation, instead of "decoupling".