BRUSSELS, June 4-- China's economic hub Shanghai and Belgian port city of Antwerp signed a series of business deals Thursday, aiming to expand investment and trade cooperation.

The deals, which were stroke at a trade and investment forum in Antwerp, included a number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoU). And the two sides expressed welcome for each other's investment.

According to the MoU between Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and the City Government of Antwerp, the two sides pledged to strengthen economic and trade cooperation and exchanges, establish a cooperative platform for convention, exhibition and tourism, and establish a bilateral long-term communication and cooperation mechanism.

As Antwerp is the world's top diamond trading center, the Diamond Administration of China (DAC) and Antwerp World Diamond Center (AWDC) signed a document to reconfirm their long-term partnership that aims to further expand the diamond trade relations between the two countries.

The two diamond-related organizations agreed to cooperate in official bilateral information exchange mechanisms, make efforts to expand the bilateral direct trade, and reconfirm the diamond trade target of 10 percent annual growth between Belgium and China.

Moreover, Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP) and the Oils and Chemicals Cluster of Antwerp Port Authority (APA) intended to support the exchange of practices and developments in relevant technology areas, information technology and other management processes, so as to play a role in the "Belt and Road" initiatives.

Mayor of Antwerp Bart De Wever said that key words such as energy, sustainability, clean technology and renewability that now were gaining importance in Shanghai and Antwerp, as well as in China and in Europe, calling for the two sides to cement cooperation for common interests.

About 40 visiting Chinese businessmen attended the forum. Representatives from the two investment organizations, government organs and companies also exchanged views at the forum.