Top legislator emphasizes Belgium's role in boosting China-Europe ties

　　Zhang Dejiang (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, holds talks with Speaker of Belgian Chamber of Representatives Siegfried Bracke, in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 5, 2016. (Photo: Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

　　Top legislator Zhang Dejiang on Monday said he hopes Belgium will play a positive role in promoting the healthy and stable development of China-Europe economic relations.

　　"China attaches importance to Belgium's crucial and unique influence in the European Union," Zhang said during his talks with Speaker of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives Siegfried Bracke in Beijing.

　　He praised Belgium's adherence to free trade and its opposition to trade protectionism and lauded its efforts to advance China-Europe mutually beneficial cooperation.

　　Zhang recalled President Xi Jinping's state visit to Belgium in 2014 and Belgian King Philippe's visit last year, saying that the all-round friendly cooperative partnership between the two countries has reached a new high under the guidance of the two leaders.

　　China is ready to work with Belgium to make bilateral relations grow stronger and more quickly on the principles of mutual respect and trust, equality and win-win cooperation, said Zhang.

　　Zhang, who is chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), recalled the history of friendly exchanges between the NPC and Belgium's parliament, which date back to 1956.

　　He said legislatures of the two sides should make more efforts to increase political trust between the two countries, create conditions to deepen pragmatic cooperation, and enhance experience sharing on state governance and economic reform.

　　Zhang urged the two legislative bodies to speed up approvals of relevant treaties and push forward bilateral cooperation in cracking down on transnational crime, terrorism and corruption.

　　Bracke said bilateral relations are at their best in history, noting that Belgium respects and understands China's core concerns.

　　The Belgian parliament values its friendship with the NPC and is ready to expand exchanges and deepen mutual trust to enrich the friendly relationship between the two sides, he said.

　　Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Yu Zhengsheng also met with Bracke on Monday afternoon.

　　Bracke is visiting China from Dec. 4 to 10 as the guest of Zhang.