China-Belgium Diplomatic Relations at 45 Years: Belgium as the Gateway for EU-China Relations

The year of 2016 is the 45th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between China and Belgium. This international conference will serve as a unique occasion to discuss the evolution of Belgium-China relations, including both the political and the economic dimensions of the relationship.

Monday, 3 October, 2016 –  09:15-16:00, at  Egmont Palace, Place du Petit Sablon 8bis, B-1000 Brussels

Tuesday, 4 October, 2016 – 09:00-14:00, at VUB Etterbeek campus, U-Residence

The year of 2016 is the 45th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between China and Belgium. As the host city of most EU institutions and several other international organisations, Belgium also plays an important role in EU-China relations. This international conference – co-sponsored by the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Egmont – Royal Institute for International Relations and the Brussels Academy for China and European Studies – will serve as a unique occasion to discuss the evolution of Belgium-China relations, including both the political and the economic dimensions of the relationship.

This event is organized in cooperation with the founding partners of BACES, VUB, Renmin University of China, Fudan University, Sichuan University and affiliated partner, Ghent University.

Programme & registration:

First day 3rd October 2016

Time: 09:15 – 16:00 (including a walking lunch)

Venue: Egmont Palace, Place du Petit Sablon 8bis, B-1000 Brussels

Programme: click here

Registration: click here

Second day 4th October 2016

Time: 09:00 – 14:00 (including a walking lunch)

Venue: U-Residence, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Ettebeek Campus, Generaal Jacqueslaan 271, B-1050 Brussels

Programme: click here

Registration: click here

Click here to see the full speech of Dirk Achten and here for the speech of Sus Van Elzen.
Click here to see the news article from the State Council of the People’s Republic of China.