China and Belgium on Tuesday vowed to deepen cooperation in science and technology and strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR). 

In a virtual meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said Belgium has strong scientific and technological strength in the fields of biomedicine, microelectronics and modern agriculture, adding that China stands ready to tap the cooperation potential in the above-mentioned fields. 

China will strengthen IPR protection to better achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, Li said. 

"Both China and Belgium are staunch defenders of free trade. China is willing to strengthen dialogue, coordination and cooperation with Belgium under multilateral frameworks, and work jointly to cope with global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic," Li said. 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Belgium, he noted, adding that China is willing to increase political mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, expand cultural exchanges, and promote the sustained and healthy development of China-Belgium relations on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment. 

Li said Belgium is an important member of the European Union and that Brussels is home to the EU headquarters, expressing hope that Belgium will play an active role in promoting the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations. 

De Croo said Belgium hopes to expand cooperation with China on investment, trade, medicine, scientific research and intellectual property. 

Belgium will work with China to support free trade and oppose trade protectionism, and play an active role in promoting the healthy development of EU-China relations, he added. 

(With input from Xinhua)