Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo spoke Friday for the great cooperation potential between Brussels and Beijing, on the eve of his departure for the World Economic Forum (WEF) to be held next Tuesday to Thursday in Dalian, a city in northeast China.

WEF Dalian "chose a good time a good topic", innovative economy and sustainable development, which has an important meaning for cooperation between Belgium and China, said Di Rupo.

After decades of exceptional and rapid development, China is entering a new stage and chooses the path of sustainable development, innovative economy is a good way to support sustainable development, said Di Rupo, noting that Belgium is at the forefront of the European Union (EU) with Germany and Luxembourg, in terms of proportion of the innovative economy in the national economy.

For Di Rupo, Belgium was strong at aerospace, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and environment protection, China also has high-quality technologies, both parties could focus on innovative economy and sustainable development in their cooperation.

At present, 300 Belgian companies have investments in China, as more and more Chinese companies invest in Belgium, he said.

Di Rupo has especially emphasized the geographical position and easy transport of Belgium for the development of logistics at European level, as well as technologies and know-how available to Belgium in the innovative economy. Belgian companies also want to take advantage of the opportunities that China's development brings, for their better development, said Di Rupo.

For Di Rupo, the cooperation between Belgium and China has a good political base. "There is a great friendship between the Chinese and Belgians, Belgian and Chinese authorities, many Belgian officials have very good relations with Chinese officials," he said.

As Brussels is also the capital of Europe and a "center of decision-makers, where many laws and standards are set," Belgium wants to play a role of "facilitator" for the development of cooperation between the European Union and China, said Di Rupo.

During his stay in China, Di Rupo will meet his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang and will attend the "Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2013." WEF Dalian is the largest gathering of political and economic decision-makers in Asia. Di Rupo will also meet with leaders of Belgian companies operating in China and CEO of Chinese companies. Endit

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