Buxant: Good evening, Mr. Fei, you are the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Belgium. Thank you for joining us for this program, which is being recorded live. We have a tradition on this show. We usually start by taking a look at your office or where you work. The photo will appear. Here, this is the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Belgium.

FEI Shengchao: Yes, this is exactly the Embassy of China in Belgium.

Buxant: Where is this Embassy located?

FEI Shengchao: Actually Avenue de Tervueren 443, that's the address, in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.

Buxant: We're looking at this photo because we'd like to know what major issue will be discussed at theEmbassy next week. In your view, Mr. Ambassador, what will it be?

FEI Shengchao: Next week, you know that the schedule in the Embassy is always very busy. But next week, certainly, I think for the Belgian friends and ourselves, we'll follow closely the important visit to China by the Belgian Foreign Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, Maxime Prévot. And I will also have another schedule to catch. That is to pay a visit to a cement factory, in Mons.

Buxant: We will of course talk about the visit of the Foreign Minister to China. But someone actually went to China before the Foreign Minister. His name is Georges-Louis Bouchez. We'll see his photo as well. He's the president of the MR party, who was received with great ceremony in China before the Minister. Is this a political signal, Mr. Ambassador?

FEI Shengchao: I think if you say there is any political signal, the signal is clear: China is open for exchanges and cooperation with all interested Belgians from various parties, from various government officials, tourists, students and the businesspeople, everybody is welcome. That's the message.

Buxant: But do you choose your political interlocutors in Belgium? Are some more acceptable than others? Or is everyone truly welcome in China?

FEI Shengchao: Probably there is a difference in the political culture here and the political culture in China, and in our foreign policy. Our door is open to everyone who's interested in promoting exchanges and cooperation with China. We do not distinguish between political colors or different political forces or parties.

Buxant: Does China sometimes seek to influence Belgian political debate?

FEI Shengchao: That's the last thing that China will ever do. Because that's the first thing we hate, others trying to meddle in Chinese business. So we will never meddle in others’ domestic business.

Buxant: If we talk briefly about the economy, Chinese electric cars are arriving in Europe in large numbers. So Brussels—the European Union—wants to impose tariffs on these cars. Beijing is also threatening to respond with tariffs. Do you think we are at the beginning of a trade war between Europe and China?

FEI Shengchao: I think if we talk about any trade war, a trade war probably was something happening last year, but even last year, it's not between China and Europe or China and Belgium. And I don't expect something will happen between China and Europe in terms of a trade war. But of course, there may be some differences or sometimes even frictions. It's the diplomat's job to try to sort out the problems and try to iron out the differences.

Buxant: Do you think we know enough about the Chinese economy, and that we respect enough the strength of the Chinese economy here in Europe?

FEI Shengchao: I would not say respect or not. But I think there is a huge misunderstanding of China in terms of politics, economy and trading ties between China and Belgium and China and Europe. You talk about the E-Cars, EVs, just now. As a matter of fact, I think that flooding is certainly an exaggeration. 10, 20, 30 years ago, European cars have been flooding the Chinese market, but the Chinese do not see it as a threat. And nowadays more and more Chinese cars are coming this way, but is far from being a flood. Because I can tell you the figures, last year 2025, I think that about 60,000 Chinese EVs sold here in Belgium. More than half were produced here in Belgium.

Buxant: Our Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, is talking about unfair competition from China. He even wrote to the European Commission to raise the alarm. Are you angry with our Prime Minister?

FEI Shengchao: I was surprised because I know that the competition is always there. But I believe that China and Belgium, China and Europe have always been partners with competition. It's more like the Olympic Games. We all want the golden medal. We compete with the same rules. But of course there will be sometimes winners and losers, this time may be China, next time may be Belgium or Europe. It's normal. But I think we are partners at the end of the day. And I think, I have also talked to people in the Belgium business circle and the government circle. I was told that of course it's a concern of Belgian and European friends, which is normal. We can talk about our concerns, but most of the media hype, I was told, is fake news.

Buxant: That's why you're here with us, to set the record straight. So, Chinese investors are everywhere in Belgium. We can mention Alibaba in Liège, the port of Zeebrugge, which is partly controlled by COSCO, and Volvo Ghent, also owned by Chinese investors. Is this a win-win partnership? Or is it a strategic dependence of Belgium on China?

FEI Shengchao: I think that there is no so-called strategic dependence by Belgium on China at all. There is this mutually beneficial win-win partnership between our two countries. If you talk about investment, Belgium has been investing in China for the past 4 to 5 decades, and quite a large number of very famous Belgian businesses are thriving because of their investment in China. The Chinese have never seen Belgium investment or project as a threat. And on the Chinese side, as a matter of fact, I think sometimes there is a paradox here. Many people would like to see Chinese investment coming and at the same time they're concerned. I think we need to sort it out that this is an opportunity rather than a threat. And also about the port you talked about like the port of Zeebrugge, for example, there are 18 ports in Zeebrugge alone. Only one container port is run by a Chinese company, the other 17 run by American friends, by Japanese friends, by Dutch friends, by German friends. It's okay. Normal.

Buxant: If you had to summarize the Belgian economy in one word, what would it be for you? How do you see it? As a logistics hub?

FEI Shengchao: It's more than a logistic hub because Belgium has a very good basis for economic growth and also for international cooperation given its location here. So it's a logistics hub and at the same time, it's also an economic hub. It's a political hub because of the seat of the European Union and also it's also a hub of international exchanges. So we attach a lot of importance to this relationship. And there is a very good foundation for the relations.

Buxant: A quick word about the best-known “Chinese” in Belgium—the famous pandas at Pairi Daiza, a symbol of friendship. They are on loan from China. If Belgium were to become too critical of China, would you take those pandas back? For the moment, one panda still remains at Pairi Daiza.

FEI Shengchao: There's never a loan agreement or arrangement at all. It's an international cooperation program, I think, by the competent Chinese organizations and also the Pairi Daiza in Belgium. Because of this great cooperation, number one, I think part of it contributes to the international efforts that has successfully moved downward the giant panda from highly-endangered species to endangered species. That's a great achievement. And number two, it has also made the Pairi Daiza one of the most successful zoos in Europe. So I think such cooperation actually serves the interest of the general public for the conservation of nature and the protection of the giant pandas, which is very good.

Buxant: You represent a communist regime that runs a liberalized economy, let's say. Who really makes the decisions in China today, in a way we can understand?

FEI Shengchao: The Chinese people have the final say. And also I would like to draw your attention to the fact that Communism started in Europe.

Buxant: Yes, it is the Communist Party that governs China. Is that right?

FEI Shengchao: The Communist Party is the ruling party of China. It runs the country according to the Chinese constitution, and its main mission is to unite the strength of the Chinese people to make life better for everyone. 1.4 billion people in China. And we have successfully managed to do it.

Buxant: In Europe, there is also criticism of human rights, civil liberties and surveillance in China. What is your response to those who believe your political model comes at the expense of fundamental freedoms? What do you say to them?

FEI Shengchao: We are completely open to have free flow of information and discussion with our European friends on whatever topics, human rights, religious freedom which we believe we all have in China. No one is perfect. Not in China, not in Europe. We can discuss the differences in perceptions and in the reality on the ground. The fact is the Chinese people are living far better lives than the past, and we are going to embrace even brighter days in the years to come in terms of human rights, in terms of everything. You care for it, we care for it. We care for the same thing.

Buxant: So, you're ready to discuss and debate this. There's another concern sometimes raised by the Belgian authorities: the risks of interference and espionage by China against our companies, for example. What's your response to that?

FEI Shengchao: Rather contrary to many misperceptions, China is the biggest victim of espionage, both physical and in cyberspace. So China is wronged for the wrongs and guilt of others. China is very open in its policy. We are open for international cooperation, but we do not do things that some other country might be very enthusiastic in doing.

Buxant: So, to conclude this chapter, Belgium is not a hostile country towards China; it is a friendly country.

FEI Shengchao: Never. The Chinese never see Belgium as a hostile country. We see Belgium as a comprehensive partner for cooperation and friendship.

Buxant: So let’s conclude. We have a tradition in this program. Our tradition is the timer. A timer will appear on this screen, and you will have 60 seconds to answer certain questions. Let’s start! Is Belgium a reliable ally of China? Yes or no?

FEI Shengchao: I think that the Belgium is a partner, but whether it's reliable or not, I think it will take efforts from both sides. We hope it can become an even more reliable partner. We need your trust.

Buxant: Should Europe protect itself from China? Yes or no?

FEI Shengchao: No. Europe need to protect its interests, but certainly not from China, because China is a partner of Europe, not a threat.

Buxant: What is one thing that Europe doesn't understand about China?

FEI Shengchao: That is, China's political system and China's economic growth is an opportunity that Europe should not miss.

Buxant: And I'll finish with this question, one thing that China doesn't understand about Europe.

FEI Shengchao: I think, also, about the political and cultural differences that our two sides have, we need to have more communication so that we better understand each other.

Buxant: Thank you, Mr. Ambassador Fei, for answering our questions this evening. Thank you to all of you for following us on every Sunday. Have a good evening to all of you on RTL-TVI.

FEI Shengchao: Wish you a beautiful evening. Thank you.