Visiting Belgian King Albert II said at a press conference Monday in Beijing that Belgium hopes to further cooperation with China in political, academic and scientific, economic and cultural areas.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) holds a welcome ceremony for visiting Belgian King Albert II in Beijing June 6, 2005.

"The objective of our state visit is to start a new chapter in the relationship between China and Belgium," said King Albert, who is here for an eight-day visit to China.

His visit marks the first China tour by a Belgian state head in the past 24 years.

"I'm very delighted to see the bilateral relations between China and Belgium have been strengthened," King Albert said.

King Albert said that Belgium is seeking to intensify high- level political dialogue with China.

"We would also like to develop our relations in the academic and scientific fields with China and that's why our delegation includes rectors of universities, top-level scientists and sinologists," he said.

King Albert also said that the country also wants to intensify economic ties with China.

"About a quarter of a century ago, Shanghai Bell and Xi'an Janssen opened the way for a new and promising form of cooperation, and recently we set up the Belgium-China Direct Equity Investment Fund, which aims to stimulate investment by Belgian small and medium-sized companies in China and vice versa," said King Albert.

King Albert said that Chinese culture is an area of particular interest to his wife and himself. He said that the Queen has already chosen a program centered on Chinese traditional and contemporary art.

Monday is the king's 71st birthday, and many representatives of Belgian enterprises in China presented him gifts.

Source: Xinhua