Distinguished Minister Peng Gang,

President He Biqing,

Chairman Bernard Dewit,

Chairman Philippe Latour,

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear friends,

Good evening.

It gives me great pleasure to join you to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Belgium and Luxembourg (AECBL) and witness its renaming to the China Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Over the past two decades, centering around its founding mission and focusing on members’ needs, the AECBL has made active efforts to set up platforms and organize various events. It has promoted exchanges and cooperation between companies from China and Belgium and China and Luxembourg, and provided guidance for Chinese companies to do business in accordance with law and regulations, shoulder social responsibilities and integrate into and serve local society. Its ability to rally and appeal has been improved.

On this joyous occasion, on behalf of the Chinese embassy in Belgium, I would like to extend warm congratulations to the AECBL. I also want to thank its members for the unremitting efforts made over the past 20 years to promote China-Belgium economic and trade cooperation.

The China Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, with this new name, is standing at a new starting point with broader prospects. It is hoped that the Chamber will further expand and improve service, put up as many cooperation platforms as possible, and make greater contribution to China-Belgium economic and trade cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear friends,

The past 20 years have witnessed the growth of the AECBL, and more importantly, the deepening of China-Belgium relations. Over the past two decades, in particular the past ten years since the establishment of China-Belgium all-round partnership of friendly cooperation, China and Belgium have kept deepening exchanges in culture, science and technology and education. In January this year, President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo during the latter’s successful visit to China. Leaders of the two countries have brought this bilateral relationship even forward.

Over the past 20 years, China-Belgium economic and trade cooperation has been resilient. In 2023, bilateral trade reached 40.16 billion dollars, ten times the volume of ten years ago. Business-to-business cooperation has kept expanding. The Cainiao Liege e-Hub has cemented Belgium’s position as a logistics hub in Europe. The China Belgium Technology Center (CBTC) has boosted sci-tech exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, and quite some companies have established operations there. The CSP Zeebruuge Terminal has increased the international profile of Belgian ports. Optimistic about the Chinese market, Syensqo, Umicore and other Belgian companies have expanded business in China and made good progress. Cooperation outcomes between China and Belgium in trade and investment have delivered real benefits to the two peoples. You have all been part of these efforts and made positive contribution to China-Belgium economic and trade relations.

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear friends,

Recently some western politicians and press have been hyping about “China exporting overcapacity”, in the new energy sector in particular. They have accused China’s new energy products of disrupting the international market. I want to stress here that the crafted narrative and groundless accusation of “China exporting overcapacity” does not hold water. I’d like to explain from the following three perspectives.

First, the claim of so-called “overcapacity” is not in line with basic economic rules and common sense. Against the backdrop of economic globalization, supply and demand must be viewed globally, and this is not just about one country. A country cannot be labeled with “overcapacity” simply because its productivity is bigger than its domestic demand. Germany and Japan export about 80 and 50 percent of their cars respectively. Large numbers of Boeing and Airbus aircraft are exported. When the US, EU and Japan are exporting their products, it is deemed reasonable; but when China is exporting its new energy products, it is labeled as “overcapacity”. Is this logical reasoning?

Second, China does not have large-scale and continued “overcapacity” and has not exported it either. The products of relevant Chinese sectors are mainly to supply the domestic market, and has not been exported in a large scale. Let’s take EV as an example. In 2023, China made 9.587 million EVs and sold 9.495 million, among which 87.3 percent were sold domestically. Only about 12.7 percent, that is 1.203 million EVs were exported. While in the same year, the global sales of EVs reached 14.65 million. China’s export was merely 8 percent of the global sales. Also in 2023, the average price of Chinese EVs in Europe was over 31,000 euro, higher than that in China. There is no such thing as “distorting price”.

Third, the strengths of China’s new energy sector is an exemplification of the strengths in technology, market, industrial chain and other areas, which is the exact result of open and thorough market competition. There is no such thing as “unfair competition”. After decades of development, China’s new energy sector has acquired its competitive edge based on China’s supersize market, full-fledged industrial system and abundant human resources, as well as companies’ huge investment in R&D and entrepreneurs’ perseverance. These cannot be achieved easily only by relying on so-called “subsidies” or “unfair competition”. In the US and EU, by the way, subsidies have increased notably in recent years. The US adopted Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which provides Investment Tax Credit and production subsidies to PV businesses. The EU kept loosening restrictions on subsidies. Between March 2020 and the end of 2022, the EU has subsidized as much as 600 million euro for batteries alone. While scaling up subsidies year on year themselves, the US and EU pick China as their target of blame for “overcapacity due to large scale of subsidies”. Is there a more vivid example of double standards like this?

As we speak, climate change is becoming increasingly serious, and there is a stronger need for green transition. While meeting domestic demand and helping to achieve China’s goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, China’s new energy products have also made sustained contribution to global efforts to tackle climate change and realize green and low-carbon transition. President Xi Jinping pointed out, in the trilateral meeting of China, France and the European Union on May 6, that China’s new energy industry has made real progress in open competition and represents advanced production capacity. It not only increases global supply and alleviates the pressure of global inflation, but also contributes significantly to global climate response and green transition. The so-called “problem of China’s overcapacity” does not exist either from the perspective of comparative advantage or in light of global demand. We call on the US and EU to follow basic norms of market economy, promote healthy international industrial competition through fair competition, improve global productivity and economic efficiency through open collaboration, and uphold stable global industrial and supply chains to better promote common development.

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear friends,

The situation across the Taiwan Straits have caught wide attention recently. I’d like to stress that there is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the central government of the PRC is the sole legitimate government representing the whole China. This is the real status quo across the Taiwan Straits. Hollowing out one China principle, conniving at separatist activities for “Taiwan independence” and distorting the 2758^th resolution of UNGA, are all detrimental maneuvers challenging and damaging the status quo.

Nothing shall hold hack the trend of history. Taiwan, a province of China, was not, is not, and will never be a country. The pursuit of “Taiwan independence” is a dead end. External interference in China’s internal affairs and encouragement and support for “Taiwan independence” will lead nowhere. Using Taiwan to contain China is doomed to failure. China shall be reunited and will be reunited. Her complete reunification will not only bring about security and benefit for the Chinese nation, but also contribute to the peace and prosperity of the humankind.

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear friends,

The sustained high-quality development of China’s economy, the advancement of Chinese modernization and China’s upgraded opening-up will bring more benefits to the world, put more impetus to global development and create more opportunities for global businesses. China announced its visa-free policy enjoyed by 12 countries including Belgium and Luxembourg has been extended till the end of 2025. We welcome more Belgian friends to visit China and learn about China’s economic and social development by yourselves. Believe me, an eye-opening and brand new experience is right there waiting for you.

Last but not least, once again, warm congratulations to the 20th anniversary of the AECBL. The Chinese embassy in Belgium will continue to provide support to Chinese and Belgian companies in carry out practical cooperation.

Thank you.