Bilateral relations between Belgium and the People's Republic of China

I. Bilateral Trade

Based on the Belgian custom figures for the three first months of 1999, Belgium is mainly exporting the following categories of items to CHINA :
- Chemicals and pharmaceuticals  (39,35% of total exports to China),
- Precious metals, diamonds, jewelry and precious stones (18,78 %),
- Machinery and mechanical appliances,  electrical equipment (15,68 %)
- Plastics and articles thereof ,rubber and articles thereof  (5,46%).

On the opposite way, China is mostly selling the following categories of products to Belgium :
- Machinery and mechanical appliances,  electrical equipment (20,39 % of all exports of CHINA to Belgium),
- Miscellaneous manufactured material (furniture, lights and lighting fittings, toys, games and sport articles (13,99 %),
- Textile and textile articles (13,94%),
- Footwear (8,01 %)
- Chemicals and pharmaceuticals (7,19 %).

Figures of Bilateral Trade

Between China and the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union in Million Belgian Franc
(as August 05th, 1999, 1 RMB = 4.586 Belgian Franc).

II. Investment

Belgium is the 6^th biggest investor in China among the European Union states.  The total of Belgian investments in Shanghai is appraised to a 322,141,200 USD and to a 185,620,000 USD in JIANGSU.

III. History

As early as the 17^th century , Belgian citizens have lived in China where they contributed to the development of Chinese society.  The most famous of all is the Reverend Ferdinand VERBIEST (1623-1688), a Jesuit, who was appointed Director of "the office for mathematics" and of Peking Observatory by emperor KANG XI.  He improved the Chinese Calendar, defined the main geographic points of the Empire and took part in the negotiations between China and Russia for the settlement of the borders between the two countries.

After an Imperial Decree gave way to the UK and Belgium to start trading with China two "merchant" Belgian consuls were appointed in CHINA in HONG KONG and SHANGHAI.  The signing of a so called unequal treaty between Belgium and China in 1865 was followed by the opening of a Belgian Legation in Peking.

At the initiative of King Leopold II many Belgian industrialists started to pay attention to CHINA (such as Franqui, Stoclet, Thys, Empain…….) where they operated different types of mines including coal mines.  The most celebrated achievement of this period is by no doubt the construction of the railway HANKOW (nowadays WUHAN)-Peking from 1896 to 1905 under the supervision of engineer Jean JADOT.  At the time this work was considered a technical exploit that still contributes to the prestige of Belgium in CHINA for engineering.  The railway was 1214 kms long with 125 stations.   Many tunnels had to be dug and a hundred bridges had to be spanned including a 3kms long one over the Yellow River.

In 1931, the Belgian Government returned its concession in TIENJIN to China.  It had been allotted to Belgium in 1902.

Belgium recognized the People's Republic of China in October 1971 during the 25^th session of the United Nations Organization.

Belgium and the Shanghai Area

There are 386 Belgians (196 families) living within the jurisdiction of the Consulate General. 

Belgium is present in Shanghai and Jiangsu with 30 joint ventures, 10 wholly Foreign Owned enterprises, 29 Rep offices and 2 bank branches.

Antwerp has been a sister city of Shanghai since 1984.

History of the Consulate General of Belgium in Shanghai

The Consulate General of Belgium was closed in 1990 due to budgetary restrictions.  It was reopened on October 1, 1996, and officially inaugurated by the then Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eric DERYCKE, in July 1997.

Please find a detailed list of historical events below:

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