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At the heart of Europe, Belgium is a unique destination for tourists, investment

By Chen Hong | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2017-11-02 17:28

Belgium is offering high-profile promotions to attract Chinese investors and tourists to explore its unique advantages, said Joris Salden, the Belgian consul general in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

At the heart of Europe, Belgium is a unique destination for tourists, investment

Joris Salden (first from left) and Michel Kempeneers (middle) pose for a group photo after a memorandum of understanding was signed between Wallonia Export-Investment Agency and Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

Located in Western Europe, Belgium is at the heart and crossroads of the continent, both geographically and culturally, Salden said.

Departing from Belgium, shipments can reach 75 percent of the European market, or 40 percent of the continent's consumers, in just two hours by train or air.

It is also an important location in which many international organizations have chosen to set up their headquarters, including the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Usually, Belgium will be included in a 10 or 12-day European tourism package for Chinese tourists, but they will spend less than one day in the country, or just pass through, Salden noted.

"In my view, tourists should spend at least two days in Belgium because we have wonderful wine, food and fruit, and beautiful scenery," he said.

Business relations between Belgium and China have improved, especially with the Belt and Road Initiative, he said.

Michel Kempeneers, chief operating officer of Wallonia Export-Investment Agency of Belgium, said at a recent seminar that the country has multimodal transportation, a favorable location, cheaper land, deferred customs clearance within 90 days, multilingual professionals, logistics incubators, and preferential tax policies and incentives. These advantages have made the country an ideal gateway to connect China and Europe, he said.

"Wallonia is regarded as the best region for logistics in Europe by numerous international consultants, and as better than its neighbors for e-commerce logistics," Kempeneers said.