(Photo: Xinhua/Gong Bing)

Brussels (People’s Daily) – Cao Zhongming, the Chinese ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, recently reiterated his country’s devotion to globalization during Friday’s “China and the World Trade Organization (WTO) white paper presentation and China’s Opportunities” seminar in Brussels.

“China will be firmly committed to the policy of opening-up and more actively take part in the process of globalization.” Cao said. “Though the trade system is under the threat of unilateralism and protectionism, China is dedicated to pursuing an opening-up policy based on mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.”

Cao said his country is “happy” to share the benefits of the Belt and Road Initiative with the world and that the Chinese government is promoting trade, investment liberalization and facilitation, and is building a community of common destiny with strong determination.

Referring to the Sino-Belgium relationship, Cao said both sides share the same position and view on multilateralism and globalization. He also expressed good wishes to local entrepreneurs who are expecting to attend the upcoming China International Import Expo.

“We will work together to enhance the cooperation in practical terms and push bilateral relationship to a new height,” Cao said.

At the seminar, Jean-Marc Delporte, the president of Federal Public Service Economy of Belgium, expounded on the need of global value chains and rule-based international trade for stability within the world’s economy.

Delporte said that rule-based multilateral trade, which is upheld by the European Union and Belgium, is now at risk thanks to the current trade war.

"Belgium is being the front supporter of multilateralism as the biggest bulwark against damaging trade wars and strongly support the EU efforts to modernize the WTO in order to make it more relevant more effective and more adaptive to the changing world,” Delporte said. “Belgium welcomes to the progress achieved during the latest EU-China summit where both partners confirmed the strong support to the rule-based transparent non-discriminatory open and inclusive multilateral trading system within WTO and committed to comply with the existing WTO rules.”

Thierry Ewert, counselor of Luxembourg permanent representation in the EU, said he hoped his country’s role as a global financial center plays a strong role in the development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Ewert said China has underlined the importance of the multilateral system during its G20 presidency and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech at the recent Boao Forum – and that this level of determination is welcomed by Luxembourg.

“As an EU member state Luxembourg welcomes this development and we are looking for a deepening of the discussion on the issues that need to be addressed in order to safeguard WTO and multilateralism,” Ewert said. “As major members of WTO both EU and china must take the lead in supporting of an open rule-based transparent and fair trade order in this critical juncture.”