Interview: Sino-Belgian cooperation produces "positive" results for both: Belgian official

Sino-Belgian cooperation produces "positive" results both in China and Belgium, said the former president of the National Assembly of Belgium, Andre Flahaut, during an exclusive interview with Xinhua recently.

"Relations between China and Belgium are long-term relationships, and the relationships produce results in different areas," said Flahaut, who is also the current government's budget minister for the French speaking part of Belgium.

Following Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Belgium in March 2014, Flahaut said, there had been "important exchanges" between universities, businesses, association and political leaders.

Several Chinese and Belgian provinces have established twinned relations between them, while a number of universities in both countries have strengthened collaboration, he said.

Since the 1990s, Flahaut has traveled to China for almost 10 times, and commented its development was "impressive."

He recalled the rapid development of Shanghai, the economic center of China. He said he noticed a big change in Shanghai in as little as a few years.

"All the cities are developing in such a way, it's impressive," said Flahaut.

From his trips to China, he also remembered the construction of the Three Gorges Dam which he described as a remarkable piece of work. He said he was "proud" that the Chinese engineers had come to Belgium before the construction to study the mechanics of boat lifts in Wallonia.

At the same time, Flahaut praised the ability of the Chinese government to solve the magnitude of problems in the country, be it related to food, education, health or mobility. These were "extraordinary challenges," he added. Endit