On February 8, 2012, visiting Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun met in Brussels with Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo. Zhang made positive comments on the development process of China-Belgium relations over the past four decades and congratulated on the successful formation of Belgium's new government. He said China is willing to work with the new government of Belgium to make bilateral relations more mature and robust. He hoped that Belgium will give full play to its special role in the European Union and continue to make efforts for the development of China-EU relations.

Elio Di Rupo said Belgium attaches great importance to developing relations with China and regards China as an important cooperative partner, pledging to continue to contribute to the development of Belgium-China, EU-China relations. The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

On the same day, Zhang Zhijun also met with President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives André Flahaut and held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders.