Chinese president visits Volvo car Belgian plant

GENT, Belgium - Chinese President Xi Jinping visited here on Tuesday a local plant of the automaker Volvo in the company of Belgian King Philippe as he continues his state visit to the country.

Xi, along with his wife Peng Liyuan, toured around a car exhibition and visited the production line. They were also briefed on research and development, production, as well as sales of the automobiles manufactured in the plant.

The two heads of state also co-unveiled the 300,000th car to be exported to China.

Volvo Car Gent, the second largest Volvo assembly line except that in Sweden, was purchased by the Chinese car manufacturer Geely Holding Group in 2010.

Since then, its production has increased steadily, and has boosted the local employment.

Belgium is the last leg of Xi's four-nation Europe trip, which has already taken him to the Netherlands, France and Germany. He also attended the third Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague.

China's President Xi Jinping (L), his wife Peng Liyuan (R), Belgium's King Philippe (3rd R) and Queen Mathilde (2nd R) present the 300,000th Volvo car produced for the Chinese market during a visit to a Volvo car plant in Ghent, northern Belgium April 1, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]