It was a bond forged on the poppy fields of the Western Front during the First World War but it's now strengthened in the global fight against terrorism.
In the wake of terrorist attacks in Brussels, Belgium's ambassador Jean-Luc Bodson reflected on the solidarity of Australians with his country.
"These bonds that existed since the Anzac time are maintained and will only be strengthened," Mr Bodson told AAP in Canberra, adding that Australian and Belgium troops are also serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The twin attacks have claimed 34 lives and have rocked Belgium to its core - a country that hasn't known violence since the Second World War, Mr Bodson said.
"We live in a world where there is a lot of terrorist attacks, but it's always somewhere else. When it takes place, in your country, in the city where I was born ... it's very shocking."
He is confident Brussels will recover, much like Paris.
"Not to normalcy but a new equilibrium," he said.
"Terrorism is a global worldwide phenomenon and is there to stay. There is nothing like absolute security."
He fears the biggest risk out of the attack could be an increase in Islamophobia because people wrongly equate terrorism with Islam.
The ambassador served in Morocco before coming to Australia and believes his country had to provide more education and job opportunities for disaffected migrant youth at risk of radicalisation.
There were lessons for Belgium out of Australia's migration story, he said including the vetting process for migrants and integration and support services.
"People are coming (to Australia) with a dream, that's what we need - people coming to Belgium, not just for a convenient life, but with a dream of being a Belgian," he said.
It wasn't about having blonde hair and being Christian, it was about having values.
Floral tributes are being laid on the steps of the Belgium embassy.
Governor General Peter Cosgrove, ambassadors and members of the public are leaving messages of condolence in a special tribute book.
Share
