From April 12 to 19, 2025, Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (BCECC) Chairman Mr. Bernard Dewit traveled to China to strengthen ties with key partners in Beijing, Tianjin and Chengdu. Before traveling to Beijing and Tianjin, he visited Chengdu for meetings with partners such as CCPIT Sichuan’s Chairwoman for an open dialogue on future cooperation. He also joined BCECC’s trade mission co-organized with Voka Flemish Brabant and Smart Hub Flemish Brabant, led by Provincial Governor Jan Spooren and joined by some major Belgian logistics players such as Brussels Airport and Air Cargo Belgium. The trip underscored the deepening collaboration between Flemish Brabant and Chengdu, with a special focus on e-commerce and logistics opportunities.
During his stay in Chengdu, Mr. Dewit joined a number of high-level events together with the delegation members, including a roundtable discussion with the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Commerce on economic cooperations. The BCECC also co-organized the conference “Sustainable E-commerce & the Future of Trade” including high-level speakers such as Belgian Customs Attaché Mr. Emmanuel Geronnez, Secretary-General of Chengdu Cross-Border E-commerce Association Mr. Wu Yue, and CEO of Air Cargo Belgium Mr. Freek De Witte.
The delegation also visited a number of strategic locations in Chengdu, such as Tianfu International Airport and the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. As the logistics hub of Western China, Tianfu International Airport offers direct connections to Brussels Airlines via Sichuan Airlines, making it a crucial gateway for trade and business between Belgium and China. Meanwhile, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding stands as a symbol of Sichuan’s commitment to environmental conservation and protection, reflecting the enduring ties between our two nations.
In Beijing, Mr. Dewit met with Belgian Ambassador to China, H.E. Mr. Bruno Angelet and Chinese diplomat Lu Shaye, and also led constructive talks with partner ICDPASO, further advancing bilateral cooperation. A particularly significant moment was Mr. Dewit’s meeting with China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Chairman Ren Hongbin, reaffirming a shared vision for business growth and long-term partnership.
During his visit to Tianjin, Chairman Dewit joined a high-level delegation to the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA), focusing on sustainable development and green innovation. The agenda included meetings with TEDA officials, a tour of the TEDA Exhibition Hall, and insightful discussions on eco-industrial partnerships with key players like the Green Partnership of Industrial Parks and TEDA Electric Power, as well as visits to Schréder (China) Lighting Industrial Co., Ltd. and the Tianjin Dual Carbon Building, where presentations on ESG initiatives and green electricity highlighted Tianjin’s commitment to a low-carbon future.
Mr. Dewit also gave a number of insightful interviews about the trade mission and current international status-quo with a number of Chinese media platforms, including China Maocu, Chengdu Plus, and Chengdu Fabu. To watch the interviews, please click here.
For some pictures of Mr. Dewit’s journey to Beijing and Tianjin, and the trade mission to Chengdu, please have a look below:
