BRUSSELS — A seminar on China-Belgium relations, titled “China-Belgium diplomatic relations at 45 Years: Belgium as the gateway for EU-China relations,” was held here on Oct 3, attracting over 180 scholars and researchers.

“The smooth development of China-Belgium relations will play an important role in the European Union to boost the overall China-EU relations,” said Chen Dong, minister councillor of the Chinese Embassy to Belgium, in his speech.

He emphasized the current relationship between the two countries, which laid a good foundation for pragmatic bilateral cooperation that was booming in various fields.

Dirk Achten, Secretary-General of the Federal Public Service, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of Belgium, also agreed that China-Belgium relations were essential to China-EU relations.

He said China and Belgium had, and would develop, greatly in terms of peace and security, prosperity, sustainable development, and interpersonal communications.

The seminar is one of the activities taking place on “China Day”, which started in 2012 to promote China-EU relations. It has successfully held a series of activities and has caught on in many European cities.