Belgium–China relations
[1] The diplomatic relationship began to improve and grow during the 1980s with visits from high-ranking governments from both sides such as Zhu Rongji in April 1991 and Vice-premier Qian Qichen in March 1992.[1] China's Vice President Xi Jinping has been to Belgium in October 2009 to enhance bilateral cooperation in terms of trade, human and cultural exchanges.[5][6] In 2019 as punishment for visiting Taiwan President of the Senate Jacques Brotchi received a lifetime ban from entering China.[7] In June 2020, Belgium openly opposed the Hong Kong national security law[8] In December 2023, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo referred to China as a "sometimes very hostile" country following allegations that the Ministry of State Security had recruited Belgian politician Frank Creyelman for espionage.[15] Qian Xiuling (1912–2008), or Siou-Ling Tsien de Perlinghi, was an immigrant to Belgium from the Republic of China who helped to save nearly 100 Belgian people from execution by the Nazis during World War II.