Vice-Premier Li Keqiang (center left) and Henri Lederhandler (center right), a pioneer in China-Belgium trade relations, listen to a performance by Lederhandler’s daughter-in-law at his home in Brussels on Wednesday. ZHANG WEIRAN / CHINA NEWS SERVICE

The 79-year-old Belgian Henri Lederhandler and his family were beside themselves with delight that Vice-Premier Li Keqiang dropped in on them on Wednesday during his two-day visit to Brussels.

In their home tucked away in a picturesque and quiet northern suburb of Brussels, Li sat with Lederhandler's family, representatives of Belgian businesses and scholars. On a table in front of them, photos of Lederhandler with China's top leaders, such as late premier Zhou Enlai, were a portal on almost half a century of the elderly businessman's pioneering adventures in China.

Calling China his second motherland, Lederhandler said Li's visit is a family gathering. "This is a very happy moment for us and it will stay with us for a long time," he said after the visit.

Lederhandler said that he had never met Li before, but there was no distance between them when Li sat down with the family on the sofa. "We talked like we had known each other for a long time," Lederhandler said.

Lederhandler was received by premier Zhou Enlai in 1955 when he led the Belgium Communist Youth League delegation to China. On his second visit seven years later, he spoke briefly with Chairman Mao Zedong. And in the days of China's reform and opening-up, Lederhandler was a frequent guest of Chinese leaders.

In 1957, Lederhandler helped found the Belgium-China Friendship Association.

Lederhandler was one of very few foreigners who had easy access to Chinese markets. "Many big companies wanted to do business with China, but they had no contacts. We worked as an agent for them," he said.

In the early days, his clients were national trading companies and business was conducted only in offices in Beijing or at trade fairs in Guangdong.

Pointing at the delicately framed photographs, Lederhandler said he has endless memories of and love for his second homeland.

Li thanked the pioneer of Belgium-China relations for his special contribution. He hoped the family would continue its friendship.

Lederhandler has a son and a daughter. His son, Eric, 45, is a well-known music conductor in Belgium and often teaches Chinese master-class students. Li Keqiang invited him to work as a cultural ambassador between China and Belgium.

Henri Lederhandler is also the vice-president of Belgian-Chinese Economic and Commercial Council. The organization's Chairman Bernard Dewit said Lederhandler is revered.

"Thanks to his intelligence, his energy and his humanity, he succeeded in his professional life without having inherited any money or special relations from his parents," said Dewit, who was also at the gathering with Li.

Time flew by, and when it came time to say goodbye, Li Keqiang gave Lederhandler and his family each a gift - for Lederhandler's wife and daughter, silk scarves; for his son, a book of paintings; and for his grandson, a panda toy.

"We gave Li and his wife each a gift in return," said Lederhandler - he sent Li a book about buildings in old Belgian towns.

Contact the writers at fujing@chinadaily.com.cn and dingqingfen@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 05/03/2012 page3)