Belgian king to make mid-year state visit

Chinese ambassadors to the European Union and Belgium, Yang Yanyi, second left, and Qu Xing, second right, send Spring Festival wishes to guests at Tuesday's reception. [Photo by Fu Jing/chinadaily.com.cn]?

China and Belgium are preparing for King Philippe's state visit to China, expected mid-year, said a senior Chinese diplomat.

"Both sides are comparing notes and discussing the final agenda and it will be in the middle of this year," Qu Xing, the Chinese Ambassador to Belgium, told China Daily at a Spring Festival reception at his embassy.

Qu said it would be the Belgian monarch's first state visit since ascending the throne in July 2013 and the king may visit cities other than Beijing.

Qu said the countries are determined to boost bilateral ties following President Xi Jinping's visit to Belgium in March last year, pledging to forge a comprehensive partnership.

"This year, there is great potential for us in terms of a bilateral relationship," Qu told guests at the reception.

He said a Chinese cultural center will soon open in Brussels and a new China-Belgium Technology Centre, in Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park will aid Chinese and Belgian companies.