Economic Mission to China, October 20-October 29

Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde went for the third time on economic mission to China between October 20 and October 29, following their economic missions in 2004 and 2007.

The couple started their visit in Beijing, where Prince Philippe met with Vice Premier Wang Qishan (Pic) and Princess Mathilde visited the Beijing Dance Academy (Pic).

On the second day, Mathilde visited the 6th Sense-Potter’s Wheel Academy in Beijing, the tennis academy of former number one tennis  player Justine Henin and her coach Carlos Rodrigues. Unfortunately, Justine could not be there due to fact that she was recovering from an operation. (Pic) Together with Prince Philippe, she visited the Pavilion of Heralding Spring of the Summer Palace in Beijing (Pic). Mathilde then attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition ‘Belgian Architecture and Arts in China’ at the Architecture Design and Research Institute of Tsnghua University in Beijing. (Pic)

Day three, and Philippe and Mathilde made a tour of the Biennale and the Belgian Art Works at the CAFA Art Museum in Beijing. (Pic)

Day four started with the launch of the Diamond RoadShow organised by the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), ICBC and Arts & Crafts at the Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square in Beijing. (Pic) Prince Philippe had a meeting with the Vice-President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping; while Princess Mathilde attended the inauguration of Beijing Epilepsy Patient Centre of Peking University First Hospital-CAAE-UCB in Beijing and visited Handicap International and One+One Radio Station. (Pic)

In the evening, they attended an official reception celebrating the fortieth anniversary
of diplomatic relations between Belgium and China. (Pic) After the reception, Princess Mathilde went back to Belgium, she travelled home to celebrate the tenth birthday of Princess Elisabeth. For Mathilde, it was very important that either she or the Prince was home on this important day for Elisabeth.

After Beijing, the Prince traveled to Chongqing where he attended the signing ceremony between the University of Antwerp and the Chongqing University (Pic) and a meeting with Huang Qifang, Mayor of Chongqing (Pic).

The next visit was on day seven, in Guangzhou, where the Prince attended a piano recital by Shen Wenyu, a Queen Elisabeth Competition laureate, at the Guangzhou Opera House. (Pic). The Prince then travelled to Shanghai where he attended a meeting with the Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) and a demonstration of chocolate making at the Waldorf Astoria Club. (Pic)

On the final day of the economic mission, Prince Philippe visited the Xue Long Antarctic ice-breaker at the PRIC base in Shangai. (Pic)

The economic mission was a big success, with more then 60 signed contracts for Belgian companies. In an interview on the last day, Prince Philippe told the press that he was very happy and that for him China is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, even after his ninth visit. Princess Mathilde will surely come back, she already paid several visits to China, but she still hasn’t visited the Great Wall.

Filed under Belgium
Tagged Bilateral Relations, China, Economic Mission, Education, Exhibition, Hospital, King Philippe of the Belgians, Press Conference, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, Sport.

One Response to Economic Mission to China, October 20-October 29