China-Belgium sign anti-graft treaties

China and Belgium signed two treaties on the extradition and transfer of sentenced criminals on Monday, paving the way for further cooperation on Beijing's ongoing anti-corruption efforts.

The two treaties were among the seven cooperative documents signed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, witnessed by Premier Li Keqiang and visiting Belgium Prime Minister Charles Michel.

Zhu Jing, a councilor of the Department of European Affairs in China's Foreign Ministry, said China and Belgium began consultation and negotiation on the two treaties in March.

"It's a trend that China enhance judicial cooperation with other countries under the background of increasing number of Chinese companies going global and expanding interests overseas," he said, adding that it was "an important progress" for the judicial cooperation between the two nations.

The two treaties will be reviewed by both sides’ legislative authorities before they are enacted, and China expressed the hope of speeding up the approval process, he added.

Besides the judicial cooperation treaties, the two sides have also agreed to open an airline from Shanghai to Brussels. Companies from both sides have also signed agreements to boost cooperation in other areas, such as shipping.

During the talks, Li told Michel that China expected Belgium to relax its exports of high-tech products to China to achieve win-win results.

Speaking on Belgium playing a leading role within the EU in pragmatic cooperation with China, Li said China hoped to speed up the negotiation on China-Europe investment pact and the feasibility study of China-Europe free trade zone.

Li also called on joint efforts with Europe to send a signal of anti-protectionism.

Michel said Belgium was dedicated to the cooperation with China in areas including agriculture, telecommunication, finance and insurance.

Belgium would like to push forward the process of the negotiation on China-Europe investment pact, he said.