Belgium's former prime minister Elio Di Rupo expressed both excitement and regret when talking about his country's ties with China in recent times, when I spoke with him on Thursday.

He talked excitedly of the two Chinese pandas that moved to Belgium at roughly the same time last year. Di Rupo, who was prime minister at the time, remembered clearly that the agreement on leasing two pandas for 15 years was signed no more than 24 hours after his talks with Premier Li Keqiang in September 2013.

And he was delighted when in February last year, two pandas arrived at Pairi Daiza Zoo in Brugelette and King Philippe I, President Xi Jinping and he unveiled the panda garden on March 31 last year.