Kyiv City State Administration Head Oleksandr Popov and Prince Philippe of Belgium had pretty active negotiations as for economic and investment collaboration between Kyiv and Brussels.

Relationship between Kyiv and Belgium has a long history, Popov noted at a meeting with Prince Philippe on Tuesday, which was held as part of a Belgian trade mission's visit to Ukraine. In 1905, representatives of Belgium bought a tram business in the capital of Ukraine, significantly expanded and modernized its track network, and supplied a tram depot with cars containing electrical equipment of Belgian manufacture, Popov noted.

A Contract on partnership between Kyiv and Brussels was concluded in 1997. Popov also mentioned that Kyiv during the preparations for hosting the European Football Championship 2012 is carrying out lots of important projects. He showed his hope that representatives of Belgium would participate in these projects. The prince of Belgium, in his turn, added that over 180 representatives of Belgian companies arrived in Ukraine as part of the Belgian trade mission.

The prince admitted that Belgium has been one of greates investors in the Ukrainian economy since the end of the 19th century.