Remarks by H.E.Ambassador CAO Zhongming at the Reception Marking the Ambassador's Assuming of Office

（2018年11月8日，布鲁塞尔）

尊敬的布拉克众议长，

尊敬的德克莱姆外贸国务秘书，

尊敬的张明大使，

尊敬的各位来宾，

　　女士们，先生们，朋友们： 晚上好！

8 November 2018, Brussels

Your Excellency President Siegfried Bracke,

Your Excellency Secretary of State Mr. Pieter De Crem,

Your Excellency Ambassador Zhang Ming,

Guests, Ladies, Gentlemen and Friends,

Good evening! Bonsoir! Goeienavond!

　　首先，我谨代表中国驻比利时大使馆，并以我个人的名义，对大家出席今天的招待会表示热烈欢迎和衷心感谢。我愿借此机会，转达中国政府和人民对比利时王室、政府、议会和人民的亲切问候和良好祝愿。能够出任中国驻比利时大使，我深感荣幸。比利时享有欧洲首都美誉，在国际舞台上发挥着独特作用。这里风光美丽，文化多元，工业发达，科技先进，巧克力、啤酒、钻石蜚声国际，机智勇敢的漫画人物丁丁在中国也广受喜爱。履新50天来，我同比各界人士都有所接触，并有幸接待李克强总理来访。比利时人民的热情友好、社会的开放包容给我留下深刻印象。感谢比政府为我到任所作的周到安排。 1971年建交以来，中比关系一直稳步发展。2014年，习近平主席成功对比进行国事访问，两国建立全方位友好合作伙伴关系。比利时政府坚持一个中国政策，重视中方在涉藏、涉疆等核心利益问题上的重大关切。两国各领域合作步入快车道，成果喜人。2017年，双边贸易额达233亿美元。双方人员来往更加密切，中比已开通4条直航航线，比利时成为中国游客数量增长最快的旅游目的地之一。

Let me start by saying thank you to the guests here today. On behalf of myself and the Chinese Embassy, a warm welcome to you all! I would like to take this opportunity and pass on the greetings and best wishes of the Chinese government and people, to the royal family, government, legislature and people of Belgium.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China-Belgium relations have enjoyed steady growth since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1971. In 2014, during President XI Jinping's state visit to Belgium, our bilateral relations were elevated to an all-round partnership of friendly cooperation. The government of Belgium has stayed committed to the One China Policy and taken seriously the major concerns of China on Xizang (Tibet) -, Xinjiang-related and other matters that bear on China's core interests. Cooperation between the two sides has further accelerated and yielded fruitful results across the board. Our trade volume last year reached US$23.3 billion. People-to-people ties are also closer, with four direct flights operating between the two countries. Belgium is also among the countries that see the fastest rise in the number of Chinese tourists.

　　可以说，中比关系正处于历史最好时期。上个月，李克强总理成功对比进行工作访问，双方就新形势下深化友好合作达成重要共识，签署7项合作文件。我愿与比方共同努力，落实好此访成果，推动中比关系迈上新的台阶。 一是继续推动高层交往，密切两国政府、议会、政党、地方等各层级人员交流往来，进一步增进双方政治互信。中方欢迎并重视阿斯特里德公主明年率团访华，将与比方一道周密筹备此访。

It can be said that China-Belgium relationship is at its best in history. Last month Premier LI Keqiang paid a working visit to Belgium. The two sides reached important consensus over deepening friendship and cooperation under new circumstances and signed seven MOUs. I am ready to work together with the Belgian side in implementing the outcome of the visit so that China-Belgium relations will move further ahead.

Let us work together to promote high-level visits, as well as mutual exchanges between central governments, legislative bodies, parties and local governments to enhance political trust. China welcomes and places great importance on the visit by a delegation led by Princesss Astrid next year and will work closely with the Belgian side in careful preparation for the visit.