A Bridge of Promise

The 25th anniversary celebration of the friendly relationship between Zhejiang Province and West Flanders, Belgium, was held at the Provincial Parliament Building of West Flanders on Oct 22. Princess Astrid of Belgium, representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Belgium, Chinese Mission to the EU, and governments of Zhejiang Province and West Flanders, as well as friendly personages from various sectors of both countries, gathered to witness this quarter-century-long friendship. 

Belgium is an important trading partner of China within the European Union, and the capital of West Flanders, Bruges, means "bridge" in Flemish.

Over the past 25 years, two successive governors of West Flanders have made 22 visits to Zhejiang. Among them, current Governor, Carl Decaluwé, has made 14 trips himself, writing his own Journal of Zhejiang. Each of their visits has been a journey of discovery to better understand Zhejiang and China.

This also marks the culmination of a three-year documentary project. A journalist team traveled 9,200 kilometers to conduct on-the-ground interviews in Belgium and moved through Zhejiang, Shanghai, Beijing, Yunnan, and other parts of China, comprehensively recording the cooperation between the two provinces in numerous fields including port and shipping, economy and trade, education, healthcare, and technology.

The year 2025 also marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. Who are the ones that have weathered the storms and built the "bridge" connecting China and Europe? For the first time, Zhejiang Daily Press Group, Zhejiang International Communication Center, and Belgian Focus & WTV have joined hands to find those witnesses, participants, and storytellers. When the destinies of families and individuals become intertwined with the times, these individuals are not only companions who have stood together through challenges but also the "bridge builders" who have collectively constructed the bridge of friendship.