Philippe and Mathilde's Economic Mission to China; November 20-28, 2004

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

You're welcome Emily

And in the meantime, in China...

26th November 2004

Prince Phillipe of Belgium delivers his keynote address at the official opening of an investment seminar in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong province 26 November 2004.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Some more photos from the previous days: at the ship launch

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

from the previous days: mathilde at the center for handicapped children

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

26/11/2004

6th day of the Belgian economic mission to the People's Republic of China. Prince Philippe meets with the Mayor of Guangzhou , Zhang Guangning. Prince Philippe is presiding the largest-ever Belgian Economic mission to China. He and Princess Mathilde are invited by Mrs Wu Yi, Vice-Premier of the P.R. of China.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

26/11/2004

Prince Philippe visiting the INBEV Brewery - Guangzhou Zhujiang Beer Group Company. Today, the Zhujiang-INBEV international Beer Museum is launched.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

26/11/2004

Prince Philippe of Belgium at the official opening of the new production unit of the Belgian company Galactic-BBCA. The Belgian Galactric has a joint-venture with the Chinese BBCA-Group.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

While Philippe is still in China today and tomorros, Mathilde left for Belgium after her duties on the 25th.

Elisabeth and Gabriel will be happy to see their mom again

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

[font=arial,helvetica]La déclaration d'amour (25/11/2004)[/font]

[font=verdana,arial,helvetica]

[font=verdana,arial,helvetica]© EPA[/font]Philippe souligne la complémentarité de leur couple et le rôle essentiel de sa femme, qui est aussi une maman, en mission



ENVOYÉ SPÉCIAL EN CHINE VINCENT LIÉVIN


PEKIN «J'aime ma femme qui est une épouse fantastique et une maman merveilleuse pour mes enfants». Hier, le prince Philippe a fait une véritable déclaration d'amour à sa femme, la princesse Mathilde, lors d'une conférence de presse en forme de bilan des deux premières étapes de la mission économique princière à Pékin et à Shangai. «J'ai la chance d'avoir Mathilde comme épouse et j'entends de nombreux hommes d'affaires dire qu'ils voudraient que ma femme m'accompagne plus souvent en mission.» L'homme, père de deux enfants, était extrêmement touchant lorsqu'il a évoqué sa femme, la princesse Mathilde, qui se trouvait à ce moment-là dans une université de Shanghai où elle soulignait toute l'importance des projets de micro-économie après avoir rendu visite en matinée à une école d'enseignement spécial. Le Prince était très heureux du déroulement des journées de travail en Chine: «Ce n'est pas ma première visite en Chine. Le pays a fortement changé.»
Si le Prince était très satisfait de ses premières rencontres, le ministre Verwilghen était aussi intéressé: «Nous avons pu rencontrer des personnes essentielles dans le processus économique chinois.»
Derrière les discours policés, on a pu sentir certaines tensions au sujet de la liaison aérienne entre la Chine et la Belgique. Fientje Moerman, la ministre régionale flamande, a difficilement caché son courroux sur l'évolution médiatique du dossier. Elle n'a pas exclu que la ligne entre Bruxelles et la Chine passe par Shanghai plutôt que par Pékin. Un dossier dont on n'a pas fini de parler... en Chine et en Belgique. Au niveau wallon, on a rappelé que l'important était qu'une liaison soit mise sur pied entre les deux pays. Les Chinois ont dû s'amuser des tensions entre ces deux communautés qui ne rassemblent même pas 9 millions d'habitants. Enfin, le Ministre-président wallon, Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe, a annoncé sa volonté de créer un partenariat entre le centre d'activité de haute technologie de Zhangjiang, près de Shanghai, l'un des plus importants au monde, et les centres de recherche wallons. «C'est essentiel pour l'avenir des hautes et nouvelles technologies dans notre région.»

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[font=verdana,arial,helvetica]V. Li.[/font] [font=verdana,arial,helvetica]© La Dernière Heure 2004[/font]

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Translation:

The declaration of love

Beijing. "I love my wife who is a fantastic spouse and a wonderful mother to my children" Yesterday prince Philippe made a real declaration of love to his wife, princess Mathilde, during a press conference where the first 2 parts of the mission (to Beijing and Shanghai) were evaluated. "I'm so lucky to to have Mathilde as a wife and I hear a lot of business people say that she should accompany us more often". The man, father of two children, was very moving when he spoke about his wife, princess Mathilde, who was at that moment visiting a university in Shanghai where she emphasized the importance of micro-economy projects; after had made a visit to a school of special education that morning. The prince was very satisfied about about the work in China: "This is not my first visit to China. The country has changed very much."

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

La Belgique fait sa pub à Shanghai
SANDRINE VANDENDOOREN

Mis en ligne le 25/11/2004
- - - - - - - - - - -


Une soirée de gala, mettant en vitrine le savoir-faire belge, a réuni 700 personnes, hier, à Shanghai.
A la base de cet événement: la jeune Asbl Belgian Team.



ENVOYÉE SPÉCIALE À SHANGHAI

C'est incontestable. Les soirées de gala aux couleurs de la Belgique font désormais partie des moments forts des missions économiques belges à l'étranger emmenées par le prince Philippe. Ce genre d'événement avait été initié par le gouvernement Verhofstadt I, juste après la crise de la dioxine. A l'époque, il y avait urgence à redorer le blason du «Made in Belgium» sur la scène internationale. Le gouvernement avait donc dégagé un budget «Image de la Belgique».

Avec le temps, ce budget s'est envolé. Les soirées de gala destinées à valoriser l'image du pays lors des missions princières ont alors été reprises par les firmes privées. Il y a un an, l'Asbl Belgian Team a ainsi été créée, à l'initiative d'Alain de Waele, le responsable des relations publiques d'InBev (ex-Interbrew). «Avec deux autres patrons, Philippe D'heygere (Stow) et Marc De Reymaekere (EDT), nous avons décidé de créer cette asbl pour continuer à promouvoir notre savoir-faire à l'étranger, explique Alain de Waele. Car avec la régionalisation du commerce extérieur et notre intégration au sein de l'Union européenne, on parle de moins en moins de la Belgique dans le domaine des exportations.» «En Belgique, on est bourré de talents et de savoir- faire, mais on a un problème avec le faire... savoir», complète François Schwennicke, l'administrateur délégué de Delvaux, qui a rejoint la Belgian Team, au même titre que Claude Deseille (Winterthur), Alex Flamant (décoration) et Jean De Cloedt.

Après avoir organisé leur première soirée de gala, il y a un an, lors de la mission princière en Pologne, les responsables de la Belgian Team ont remis le couvert, mercredi soir, dans un grand hôtel de Shanghai, à l'occasion de la mission économique belge en Chine -la plus importante jamais organisée avec 500 participants.

Cette soirée de gala, présidée par le prince Philippe et la princesse Mathilde, a réuni pas moins de 700 participants, pour la plupart des hommes d'affaires belges et chinois. «Pour les sociétés belges déjà présentes en Chine, comme InBev, c'est une belle occasion d'inviter ses clients et ses partenaires pour mieux leur faire connaître la Belgique», souligne Alain de Waele.

Au menu: un repas aux saveurs belges, concocté par deux chefs coqs belges étoilés (Benoît Gersdorff et Jean-Luc Pigneur) et un dessert signé Pierre Marcolini. Et au programme: un défilé de mode comprenant des pièces des collections de Delvaux, Natan, Ann Demeulemeester et Véronique Branquinho, ainsi que des parures des diamantaires anversois. Dont coût? Selon les organisateurs, un tel événement est évalué entre 250000 et 300000 euros, financé par la participation au repas (entre 200 et 350 euros le couvert) et le soutien des sponsors (Solvay, Barco, Telindus, Fortis Banque, InBev, etc.).

© La Libre Belgique 2004

Summary:

The gala nights:

Apparently they didn't always make part of the mission, but were introduced by the Government Verhofstadt I to create a more positive image of Belgium abroad (after the dioxine crisis).

With time, there was no more money for these gala evenings, and so the companies taking part in the mission started to finance them. Last year, the asbl "Belgian Team" was created to carry this further. Their first gala night was last year in Poland, and it was a big succes. So last wednesday another gala night was given in Shanghai. 700 people were present, mostly Belgian and Chinese businessmen (and women

).

At this gala night the dinner was prepared by Belgian top chefs, there was a fashion show with pieces from Delvaux, Natan, Ann Demeulemeester and Veronique Branquinho, and diamond jewels from Antwerp. The cost of the evening was estimated between 250 000 and 300 000 €, financed by the participants (200/350 € per plate), and the support of the sponsors (Solvay, Barco, Telindus, Fortis Bank, InBev brewery etc.)

 

[Emily]

Catherine, again a thank you for all your time posting the pictures and speechs of this interesting couple. I have not known much about them until very recently and your posts have been a great introduction! Again, thanks for all your work.

 

[Mette2]

this is a translation of the text under the video clip:

Philippe says: "Mathilde and I are very complementary"

The economic mission to China, accompanied by prince Philippe and princess Mathilde is halfway. The princely couple and the more than 350 businessmen made, after Beijing, also a visit to Shanghai. Their stay in the city was ended by a gala evening.

The prince and princess each had their own program today. While prince Philippe visited companies, Mathilde visited the university and an institution for handicapped people.

Philippe emphasized the qualities of his wife. "The businessmen insist she joins us every time a mission is organized. We're very complementary" the prince said.

Their stay in Shanghai was ended by a gala evening. There was a focus on two important export products for our country: diamonds and fashion. These luxerygoods were presented at a fashion show.

Cathérine thank you very, very much for taking the time to translate the text, I really appriciate it.
Also thank you for the new pictures you've posted and the other translations. Philippe is really a sweet and romantic man, and it just makes me smile when he says things like that. I've read other posts that say Philippe is lucky to have Mathilde, but I think she's lucky to have him too. Would it be possible to clone him? I sure wouldn't mind having a guy like him.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

While Mathilde is back home with the children, Philippe seems to be running from one factory to the next.

Prince Philippe attends an opening ceremony of a factory of Belgium's Vitalo Packaging Co. Ltd. on November 26, 2004 in Guangzhou, China.

 

[Hannelore]

I just heard on the radio that the mission has come to an end. Filip was pleased, and said it was a big success, but that in future the different Belgian regions should also cooperate more, and present themselves as a unity, especially in as huge a country as China.

Thanks everyone for the photos. Mathilde looked smashing every step of the way, and both Filip and Mathilde did quite a lot of work. These two don't rest

 

[Hannelore]

Princess Mathilde of Belgium
PRINCESS MATHILDE of BELGIUM plays with children as she visits Beijing Children's Home in Beijing, China. She is currently involved in launching a children's charity effort. Date: 22.11.2004.

 

[Julia]

Mathilde seems like a very kind and empathetic woman. She also seems to really take her duties very seriously and with a good deal of enthusiasim, as well. Phillippe seems to be a little more reserve than Mathilde but just as conscientious. They are model royals.

 

[Hannelore]

26-11-2004 Prince Philippe, 3rd right rear, of Belgium takes part in the stone-laying ceremony for the Zhujiang-InBev International Beer Museum in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong province, on Friday November 26, 2004. The museum will be built jointly by Chian's Zhujiang Brewery Group and Belgium's InBev Brewery.

 

[Hannelore]

at the children's welfare institute in Beijing

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

more from the mission to China

 

[Mandy]

Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde visit the Forbidden City in Beijing, Sunday 21 November 2004.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Shanghai, 2004-11-24, Princess Mathilde
Microcredit




Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Students,


I feel very honored that I can speak here today at such a distinguished University.
I thank M. Zhang Jikang, Director of the Center for European Studies, for giving me the opportunity to visit your splendid campus and to talk to you.

I must admit I am really impressed by the development of your country, by the ambition and hard working people and above all by you the students.
Every year an increasing number of young Chinese come to Belgium to follow courses at one of our well-known Universities. They are among the most eager and motivated students, and they are an example to many of us. I can only encourage you to continue to do so. We all know that a good education is very important if you want to ensure a decent life for you, your family and your communities. And we can learn from each other.

I am delighted that an agreement was signed between Fudan University and the University of Antwerp Management School in the field of innovation and innovation management. This agreement will be mutually beneficial to the two Universities as well as to the economic development of both countries.
Universities can play a crucial role in creating a stimulating environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. New ideas, new concepts, new techniques are often developed within Universities, including the University of Antwerp.

M. Van Dyck, Vice Rector of the University of Antwerp, will tell you more about it in a little while.


Dear Students,

As I mentioned before, education is an important tool in life. But so is the fight against poverty. What is especially important in helping people to rise out of poverty, is the possibility of gaining access to adequate financing to realize their projects. I am sure that several among you are interested in finance and banking but that at the same time you are committed to help poor and low-income people to improve their standard of living.
Microfinance is, I think, an ideal tool to combine these two concerns.
And innovative thinking also plays a role in microfinance.


As you probably know, 2005 has been designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Micro credit. I am very pleased to have been appointed a member of the Emissary Group for the Year, and as such, I would like to speak to you today about the critical role that microfinance plays in alleviating poverty around the world. I am especially pleased to address a group of such talented students, because you are the future – the next generation of microfinance policy-makers and practitioners.

Microfinance is one of the most powerful tools we have today to alleviate poverty. It helps poor households meet basic needs by increasing their assets and income, which in turn leads to substantial improvements in housing, healthcare and children’s education. We also find that women benefit enormously from micro credits. So by supporting women’s participation, microfinance promotes gender equality in the home, and a greater complementarity between men and women.

Yet, most people in developing countries do not have access to financial services.
So a key question we plan to address this Year is: why are so many poor people perceived as “unbankable?” Why are the poor considered a financial risk?

The poor do not want charity, they want to be sustained in their own economic activities, however small. As we all know, economic activity is the best way to generate increased earnings. The poor work tremendously hard ; we know that micro-entrepreneurs are one of the most vibrant and energetic groups in the developing world. And they have proven time and again that with access to adapted financial services, they build their businesses, repay their loans, will save money, and ultimately give a better life to their family and especially their children

So stimulating the entrepreneurial spirit of poor people is a crucial step in eradicating poverty.

Microfinance is not new to your country. Decision-makers have long believed that the provision of small loans is a necessary and helpful tool for poverty alleviation. While microfinance’s initial focus in China was on farmers in rural areas, it has been expanding into urban areas, and now plays an important role in generating employment opportunities for laid-off urban workers and university students, as well as for poor rural farmers.

The potential demand for microfinance services in China is huge. The United Nations Development Programme estimates that with more than 60 million rural households currently receiving micro credit loans, the total demand for micro loans could reach 59 billion yuan (7 billion US dollars). When savings deposits are taken into account, even larger potential demand exists for microfinance services.

It really hope that you, the next generation, will seize the tremendous opportunity that exists in your country. You already possess the tools to improve the lives of millions and millions of poor people. And while China is on track to reach its Millennium Development Goal of halving the number of people living below the poverty line, efforts should be continued.


I hope you , at the Fudan University, will use the Year of Micro credit as the chance to get involved, just as students from all over the world are joining our effort. Take for example, the group of innovative Harvard Business School students who are conducting a major initiative called the Global Micro entrepreneurship Awards. This initiative has now become an official activity of the International Micro credit Year and has enticed top university students and young professionals from around the world to collaborate with microfinance partners, UN Agencies and National Committees and become a part of the microfinance movement. I am sure you, here at Fudan University, can come up with similar initiatives! Whatever they are, I invite you to take action, and to join us in making the Year of Micro credit, and beyond, a milestone in expanding opportunities for poor people everywhere.

I thank you.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

more from China (thank you Chris for scanning these )

 

[Dennism]

I´ll say it now so that someone later doesn´t have to say a cheeky line but I must say that Mathilde in that last photo really "glows". Lovely.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

another one from the gala night

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Some more videos. It's from an episode of a showbizz program on Belgian tv. I watched it and they actually showed a lot more.


At the beginning a very relaxed Philippe told the reporter that it was a hectic period. The weekend before they had to be in China, Mathilde was in NY as an emissory of the year of the microcredit of the UN. Philippe said he flew to New York that weekend to see her. He gave her a big hug, they talked and had a plate of spaghetti and then Philippe flew back to Belgium. Mathilde went directly to China, where she welcomed her husband a day later.

Here's some explanation with the videos:

Mathilde visits an orphanage for handicapped children that's under protection of handicap International. For 5 years Mathilde has been placing HI under her high patronage. She's great with children and also worked with them when she was a speech therapist.

http://www.vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_master/default/magazine/overzicht/ROYALTY_BEL_050102_MATHILDE_china/index.html?video_1

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Philippe says Belgians have to become more proud of who they are and be more certain of themselves. By being abroad on a mission like this one, you also discover who you are and what you're capable of. He was very happy about the mission and jokingly told the photographers to take pictures of their tired faces so that people in Belgium could see they had been working.

http://www.vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_master/default/magazine/overzicht/ROYALTY_BEL_050102_MATHILDE_china/index.html?video_2

Mathilde baptizes a Belgian ship built in Shanghai. The mayor of Antwerp (Patrick Janssens) had flown over to China especially for this event.


http://www.vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_master/default/magazine/overzicht/ROYALTY_BEL_050102_MATHILDE_china/index.html?video_3http://www.vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_...ht/050102_royals_china_drl/index.html?video_3

The Belgian galanight was a highlight of this mission. Mathilde, as ambassador of the Belgian fashion, dazzled in her green dress of Natan. It was a night dedicated to Belgian gastronomie, fashion (with a.o. Natan, Ann Demeulemeester and Veronique Branquinho) and diamonds.

http://www.vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_master/default/magazine/overzicht/ROYALTY_BEL_050102_MATHILDE_china/index.html?video_4

 

[Hannelore]

Filip's speech on tha gala night

With my wife, Princess Mathilde, I am delighted to be with you. Tonight, I want to talk to you about cuisine, fashion, and diamonds.

Cuisine is not just about food. It is part of our culture, of how we live together as human beings. It is about people sharing a table, sharing an important moment. It is about togetherness, about bonding, about building bridges and showing that people are important.

Fashion is not just about clothes. It is also about a way of living, a way of having respect for yourself and for others, it is about manners and elegance, about how to deal with people. It is an essential element of civilisation.

A diamond is not just an expensive object. It is concentrated matter, tough but beautiful. It can take many forms, it has many facets.

Of course you realize that in talking about cuisine, fashion and diamonds I have, in fact, been speaking all the time about my country, Belgium. I love my country.

Belgium is like a diamond. Like a diamond, it doesn’t have to be big to shine. It is concentrated, it is strong. Its many facets have been polished over the years. But a diamond can not shine in the dark. It sparkles only when the light of the world hits it.

Tonight, Ladies and Gentlemen, Belgium shines in China. We sparkle like a diamond here in Shanghai. And we sparkle because the famous lights of Shanghai are shining on us. Shanghai’s lights are its people. You, our Chinese guests, are dynamic and ambitious. You are confident in the future. Your city and your country are a land of opportunity and of immense appeal. We want to seize the moment you have created. We want to be partners and friends in your amazing development.

China is big, and it wants strong and capable partners. We have companies who discovered this decades ago. They came here to invest because they believed in China’s potential. How right they were. Tonight, Belgium is back with a big delegation of capable people and strong companies. Many of them are small enterprises, but they sparkle. They are eager to do business, and we have created financial incentives to help them invest here. May I ask our Chinese guests to welcome them as business partners and friends. And here is a message for the Belgians. Let us be ambitious. Let us bring out the best in ourselves. Let’s be confident in the future. Let us shine and sparkle. In fact, I invite us Belgians never again to say that Belgium is a small country.

Let me end with a word of thanks. Thanks to the members of Belgium Team; they are business people who spared no time and no effort to create this spectacular evening. A special thanks to all those who worked behind the scenes to deliver this event on schedule. My warmest thanks also to our many Chinese guests who chose to share this magical moment with us. My thanks to the Belgian federal government and to the Regions of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels for their valuable contribution to this mission. And finally thank you all, for your presence and your support.

I raise my glass to the friendship between China and Belgium. Let’s enjoy our evening.

 

[Hannelore]

from APL pictures

 

[Ava Elizabeth]

I really like her gala dress. Mathilde is a classic beauty.

 

[Hannelore]

forbidden city