Shenzhen, a Chinese high-tech hub, and Belgium have shown growing interest to use each other as gateways to the Chinese and European markets amid slackening Sino-European business exchanges this year.

The two sides have agreed to boost cooperation at a maiden overseas high-tech fair, which was organized by the Shenzhen municipality in Brussels on Wednesday.

About 100 companies from Shenzhen and Belgium attended the event, which was a prelude to the annual China High-Tech Fair scheduled for November.