Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wu Bangguo on January 24 appealed to Belgian enterprises, particularly small- and medium-sized ones, to do business with China and assured them support needed from the Chinese government.

Wu made the call while addressing about 200 businessmen and officials at a luncheon hosted by the Belgian-Chinese Economic and Commercial Council.

"We hope the business communities of our two countries will actively explore new channels and new areas to expand cooperation," Wu added, who arrived in Brussels after a five-day official visit to Britain last week.

The Chinese vice premier responsible for industrial and communications sectors proposed closer cooperation between the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of the two countries. SMEs play an important role in economic development, providing job opportunities and services, he said.

"The two sides can make full use of the sister city and sister province relationships, help the SMEs of the two countries establish more communication channels and find cooperation partners through institutions like the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Belgian-Chinese Economic and Commercial Council."

He said China's new strategy to develop its vast inner part offers tremendous business opportunities.

"Belgian companies are welcome to invest and set up factories or undertake other forms of cooperation with us in the central and western parts of China. Enjoying preferential policies from the state and boasting obvious advantages in human and natural resources, these areas promise tremendous investment opportunities."

Belgium is the second leg of Wu's three-nation Europe tour. He will later travel to Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos.