Documentaries “In Their Eyes: 50 Years China-Belgium”

The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Belgium. On this occasion, a series of micro documentaries is released in both countries. It is entitled “In Their Eyes: 50 Years China-Belgium” and is being jointly presented by China Media Group (CMG) Europe and URTI (International Radio and Television Union), and has been co-produced by CMG Film, Drama and Documentary Programming Center.

October 25, 2021 is the anniversary date of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Today the documentary is officially broadcast on more than thirty mainstream media platforms in China and Belgium; including CCTV9 (the CCTV documentary channel), CGTN French Channel, CGTN English New Media in China, and BX1, RTC Télé Liège, TVCom, Brussels Information Press and Decamps Media in Belgium.

The relationship between countries lies in people’s affinity, and people’s affinity lies in heart to heart communication. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Belgium on October 25, 1971, the people of the two countries have been interacting in a sincere, tolerant and mutually rewarding manner. People to people and cultural exchanges between the two countries have been booming and unfolding. Behind this achievement are the persistence, contribution and efforts of ordinary people from both countries.

Founder of cultural institutions, leader of the catering industry and a “Tiktok” blogger… Three Belgians in China and three Chinese in Belgium are introduced in “In Their Eyes: 50 Years China-Belgium”. Six vivid descriptions and six extraordinary experiences. As lively individuals, these six protagonists made different choices, but they all chose to take root in each other’s country. They chose integration, understanding and tolerance. Their stories may look small, but through details of their daily lives one can see the reason why the relationship between China and Belgium relationship has developed substantially. As an ancient Chinese poem says, “Despite the distance between them, true friends always feel close.” The stories of these six people are also a true reflection of 50 years of cooperation between China and Belgium.

Belgian writer Maurice Maeterlinck once said, “Thus are we led by the past and the future.” Looking ahead, an even greater number of people from both countries, such as the six protagonists from “In Their Eyes: 50 Years China-Belgium”, are bound to sail to the other side on “a boat of friendship” with passion and sincerity, thus contributing to the deepening of relations between the two countries.       

(CMG reporter : Jiang Qiudi  Jin Jing  Zheng Zhi  Song Chengjie)