Belgian and Chinese private companies and public institutions signed a total of 23 contracts, agreements and MOU's in Beijing on Monday. [Wang Wei/China.org.cn]

Belgian and Chinese private companies and public institutions signed a total of 23 contracts, agreements and MOU's in Beijing on Monday, one day before the Belgian delegation completed its visit at China's capital.

The agreements covered a wide variety of subjects, including transportation and logistics, clean technology, healthcare and pharmaceutical products, and information and communications technology.

The Federal Holding and Investment Company set up the Mirror Fund – an outbound China investment fund – with the Chinese Ministry of Finance. The fund will be used to help Chinese companies to invest and develop in the European market through the gateway of Brussels, the capital of Belgium and headquarter of the European Union.

For years, trade relations between Belgium and China have kept expanding. According to statistics from the Belgian embassy, Belgium is now the sixth biggest investor in China among EU countries. Belgium has more than 300 investors in China and China more than 30 in Belgium.

Belgium's Prince Philippe attended Monday's signing ceremony and praised this economic mission. The mission was the fifth time the crown prince led a Belgian trade delegation to visit China.

Belgium's Prince Philippe addresses the gala reception on Oct. 24 that celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Belgium. [Wang Wei/China.org.cn]

"We have never stopped promoting economic exchanges and encouraging our people, our businessmen and women to get to know and understand China better," Philippe said.

"Tomorrow, the 25th of October, we will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Belgium," he said, "An occasion such as this gives us an opportunity to reflect from the past and to contemplate our common future."

A gala reception after the signing ceremony celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Belgium.

The economic mission, with up to 500 participants and 223 Belgian companies, was one of the biggest ever organized by Belgium. After Beijing, delegates will make stops in Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Shanghai before wrapping up the the nine-day trip on Saturday.