Chinese ambassador encourages close ties with Belgian students

Countries can work together more in the future, he says

China's Ambassador to Belgium Cao Zhongming said on Wednesday that the youth of the China and Belgium should work together with an open mind and spirit of inclusiveness to contributing more to the world's future.

He made the remarks in a speech at the HEC Liege, the management school at the University of Liege.

Cao talked about all aspects of China's development, covering topics from poverty alleviation and e-commerce to the Belt and Road Initiative, the program to develop infrastructure and connectivity from Asia and Europe to Africa.

He hoped that the two countries will join hands in building a "peaceful", "open", "cooperative" and "diverse" world for common development.

"With a long-term friendly relationship, Belgium and China hold the same or similar standpoints in global governance", Cao said, adding that "China and Belgium can do more together in the future."

In a conversation moderated by Wilfried Niessen, director general and dean of HEC Liege, he also answered students' questions regarding climate change, China's economic development and the Korean Peninsula.

Cao encouraged more communication and interaction between young people of the two countries for further participation in world affairs.

He also invited HEC Liege students to China "to gain a better understanding of China by yourself."

The University of Liege now hosts more than 200 Chinese students through exchange programs with several Chinese universities. It also houses the Confucius Institute of Liège, which was founded in 2006 and has been teaching Chinese to professors and students.

Dai Yujun contributed to this story.