Xi's visit highlights partnership with Belgium, EU_美文

Xi's visit highlights partnership with Belgium, EU

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President Xi Jinping gives his best wishes to the two pandas in Belgium that are expected to bring long-term joy to Europeans.

Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, attended a ceremony marking the opening of a panda garden in Pairi Daiza Zoo on Sunday.

Peng gave panda dolls to a dozen of children at the ceremony.

The two pandas, Xing Hui and Hao Hao, are expected to have many fans and friends and help Europeans understand and love China and Chinese culture.

The panda pair arrived in Belgium in February and will stay for 15 years on a lease agreement.

Pandas have long been seen as ambassadors of friendship from China.

Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde accompanied Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, to the panda garden, which is 60 kilometers from Brussels.

"I hope that through my visit China-Belgium relations and China-Europe ties can be further promoted," Xi said during his meeting with the king.

Xi will meet with Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo and parliamentary leaders on Monday. On Tuesday in Ghent, he will visit carmaker Volvo, which was bought by Chinese company Geely in 2010.

Also on Monday, Xi will become the first Chinese president to visit EU headquarters, where he will meet with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Parliament President Martin Schulz.