Education, Culture and Commerce Exchange Between Belgium and China Essay Example

The participants expressed enthusiasm for enhancing bilateral relations while demonstrating understanding on this matter.

Li emphasized the significance of the strong connection between China and Belgium, with hopes for further advancements in different sectors. Janssen, Bekaert, and Alcatel are recognizable brands to Chinese citizens due to their established presence in China by Belgian enterprises. This long-term partnership represents the relationship between China-EU that contributes to broader developments between Asia and EU through ASEM. The purpose of this paper is to investigate education, culture, and commerce from both countries' perspectives regarding the current state of international relations between Belgium and China. Several case studies will be analyzed to display the robust bond shared by these two nations.

The growing number of Chinese students pursuing higher education in Belgium and the increasing interest among Belgian students to learn about China's language and culture highlights the significance of education in a country's diplomatic strategy. In 2011, approximately 2300 Chinese students were studying in Belgium while around 300 Belgian students were enrolled in educational institutions in China.

Amongst this cohort, 5% have achieved post-undergraduate certifications, 37% have completed their master's degrees, and 58% are currently pursuing their PhDs. The VUB has formed three key alliances with educational institutions in China. These partnerships

encompass collaborative initiatives such as joint programs, scholarship opportunities, provision of qualified student and staff exchange programs, hosting of public events for cultural diplomacy purposes, establishment of joint laboratories to facilitate cooperation beyond research and development, as well as knowledge transfer regarding education-technology. Additionally, they are seeking eligible Chinese students and scholars through public recruitment efforts while also maintaining strong external networks within these countries.

VUB has established strategic partnerships with various higher education institutions in China, mainly located in Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi'an. However, VUB's collaborations extend to other regions including Beijing Renmin University, Tshinghua University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Tongji University, Fudan University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Northwest Polytechnic University, Sichuan University and Zhejiang University. Since 2005,VUB has been collaborating with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) Cooperation to provide doctoral and postdoctoral scholarships exclusively for Chinese researchers studying at VUB. In 2011 alone,a total of 29 PhD candidates from China who were enrolled at VUB received CSC scholarships.Moreover,VUB provides Erasmus Mundus scholarship opportunities for eligible Chinese students.This award is a joint initiative between ten Chinese universities and has benefited over one hundred students at VUB since its establishment in 2009 until 2013.

In addition to Vrije Universiteit Brussels, several other universities in Belgium have a significant number of international students. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven had 421 out of 4,402 international students from over 120 countries in 2006, accounting for 10% of the international student population. This is also true for University of Gent, Universiteit Antwerpen, and Universite de Liege. To enhance the education relationship between Belgium and China, increasing Chinese enrollment and offering large-scale scholarships can be beneficial. However, it can be challenging for Chinese students to

study in Belgium due to the official languages being French, Dutch or German. Therefore, proficiency in at least one of these languages is necessary to attend Dutch and French language institutes. Unfortunately, most middle/high schools in China do not regularly teach any of these languages (except some language-focused schools). English is the second official language that's typically taught in Chinese schools.

The lower number of Chinese undergraduate students in Belgium compared to research-oriented master's degree students is due to their ability to study French or Dutch in Chinese universities and apply for graduate programs in Belgium, or a need for specialized education after spending time in the country. Belgium attracts Chinese students interested in fields with numerous experts and non-profit organizations headquartered there, as well as offering attractive programs and scholarship opportunities. In October 1985, an academic exchange agreement was facilitated by the National Fund for Scientific Research between China's Academy of Social Sciences and the Belgian Research Foundation.

The primary initiatives are centered on backing the yearly exchange done monthly, sharing information and publishing academic literature, and holding conferences and academic events. All exchange programs have a minimum duration of three months. Chinese customs such as tea and Kung Fu, along with Belgian specialties like beer and chocolate are essential mediums for cultural exchange between the two nations.

The Confucius institute has become the primary tool for cultural exchange, followed by events such as festivals and organizations like the China Belgium art and culture society. TV shows and visits between seniors have also strengthened the bond between China and Belgium. On April 14th, 2011, Fadilar Laanan, the Belgian minister of culture, made an important visit to China

to promote cultural relations between the two countries. During this time, Laanan signed a contract for cooperation in the movie and TV industries.

Belgium offers tax shelter options for the film industry, providing benefits for filmmakers. The Belgium digital graphics animation company supplied advanced graphics technology for the production of Little Big Panda, a highly-priced Chinese animation. The film cost approximately 350 million RMB, equivalent to around 35 million euros. During a showcase in Heverlee, Belgium on September 24, 2012, Chef Yin Yunmin introduced the traditional Chinese Huaiyang cuisine, which originated from Jiangsu Province in eastern China. Belgian chefs and citizens alike attended the event to experience the authentic Chinese food.

Chinese Minister of Culture Cai Wu highlighted the growing interchanges in arts and culture, education, film and television, journalism, publishing, sports, and other fields between China and Belgium. He commended the influential cultural exchange activities and the successful 2009 "China Art Festival" held in Belgium as a milestone in the countries' cultural exchange history, establishing a strong foundation for more profound bi-lateral cultural exchanges and collaborations. Cai Wu emphasized that the festival strengthened the two-way interaction between China and Belgium's government and people, resulting in fruitful outcomes and opening broader prospects for further collaboration. Moreover, Chinese documentary show "Tongue," showcasing Chinese cuisine from diverse regions, will be broadcasted on Belgian national television on February 9th. This marks a stepping stone for more Chinese movies and TV shows to be presented to European audiences. The Glory Century Culture and Arts Co. plays an active role in fostering cultural ties between China and Belgium.

According to Yang, the General Manager for Europe of the company, the broadcast copyright

of the documentary "tongue" is being given as a gift to Belgium without any commercial interests. This gift is not costly, especially when considering the long-term cooperation between the two countries. The purpose of this broadcast in Belgium is to facilitate cultural exchange between China and Belgium. It is one of the sub-projects of the Cultural Year. Previously, Belgium had never introduced Chinese documentary films but only European-made documentaries about China.

The domestic and broadcast versions of the film titled "Taste" have the same contents on the screen, but the audio in the broadcast version is replaced with French. Yang, who communicated with the person in charge of Belgian TV, revealed that they have little knowledge about Chinese TV programs, including the shooting style and level. After watching "Taste", the relevant person in charge of Belgian TV was impressed with its high standard. During the Cultural Year activities, China provided several movies and TV shows to Belgium. "Taste" was their top pick, followed by other CCTV Movie Channel productions such as "Naked Marriage Age" and "Too Late to Say I Love You", which will also be broadcasted in Belgium.

Starting from February 9, 2011, the Belgian national television has been airing on-demand episodes every Saturday at 11 am. Additionally, from February 14, the show will also be replayed on three Thursdays at 9 pm, which are considered prime time for the local audience. The television station places great importance on pre-broadcast teasers, interview clips, and stills, and has launched an extensive publicity campaign on their website for the premiere of "tongue" in Belgium. Not only did they choose to premiere the show during the Chinese Lunar New

Year, but they also designed a snake logo to accompany the documentary which can be found in the lower right corner of the screen.