Chinese vice premier eyes further technology cooperation with Belgium

Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong on Monday expressed China's willingness to enhance technology and innovation cooperation with Belgium.

Liu arrived in Belgium Monday morning to kick off a multi-day Europe tour and her first stop was some major research centers.

She visited Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), which is dedicated to research in areas of sustainable chemistry, energy, health, materials management and land use.

"The five research areas of the center actually coincide with China's research areas," said Liu, adding that China wants to enhance cooperation with VITO, particularly in remote sensing, energy efficiency, environmental protection and new materials.

After visiting a geothermal project at VITO, Liu said it was important for both countries to cooperate on geothermal energy, which is also a clean and sustainable source.

Liu said she learned that the north China region and Belgium's Flemish region share similar geological conditions.

The cities of Beijing and Tianjin and the Hebei Province in north China are now focusing their attention on the development of green energy and treatment of air-pollution. However, in those areas, there was no sufficient sources of wind or solar energy.

Liu said the proposed cooperation between VITO and an institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences on jointly implementing the concept report of the CropWatch science satellite constellation mission serves an example to demonstrate the openness of cooperation between China and Europe in science and technology and innovation.

Liu said she believed such cooperation will give impetus to the two countries' cooperation, because by working together, China and Belgium will jointly provide innovative information, data services and product to the world in coping with global food security, climate change, water crisis and other strategic demands.

On Monday afternoon, Liu also visited the Belgian Nuclear Research Center.