BRUSSELS, March 31 -- China and Belgium pledged to deepen their all-round partnership of friendship and cooperation here on Monday, as Chinese President Xi Jinping is paying a state visit to the European country.

A joint statement released by the two governments said China and Belgium decided to advance their bilateral relationship to achieve fresh, bigger development.

Calling each other sincere partners, China and Belgium enjoy mutual respect and trust on issues related to sovereignty, security and development path, and bear responsibilities for peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development of their own countries and the international community, according to the statement.

Belgian reaffirms its adherence to the one-China policy, respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the Chinese side will continue to support the European integration and attach great importance to Belgium's role in promoting the course, it added.

The two sides reiterated their joint commitment to promoting and protecting human rights on the basis of equality and mutual respect, according to the statement.

China and Belgium will conduct cooperation within the framework of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, and support efforts made by China and the EU to properly handle trade frictions through dialogue and consultation.

The two countries support efforts to jointly build the Asia-Europe grand market by combining China-Europe cooperation with the construction of the Silk Road economic belt, and promote personnel, enterprise, capital and technology flow between the two continents, said the statement.

As one of the first countries that warmly welcomed China's reform and opening-up policy, Belgium has been committed to launching industrial and technological cooperation with China, providing government loans and setting up industrial cooperation funds together with China.

Noting that many mutually beneficial innovation programs have been launched in Belgium, offering opportunities to advance joint scientific research and for Chinese enterprises to invest in Belgium, the statement underlined that China fully recognizes Belgium's geographical advantages as the heartland of the EU mechanism and economy.

The fact that China and Belgium are conducting a joint research program on giant panda protection illustrates the friendship between the two peoples, the statement said.

The two sides also identified some key areas for short- and mid-term cooperation, such as students and scientific research personnel exchanges, education, economy, technology, agricultural products processing and so on.

In the statement, Xi expressed his gratitude for the Belgian side's warm, hospitable reception. He also invited King Philippe to visit China at a convenient time and King Philippe gladly accepted the invitation.