BRUSSELS, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Two Belgian universities announced on Friday that they would confer a joint honorary doctorate to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The Catholic University of Leuven (KULeuven) and Ghent University said in a statement that the honorary degree would be bestowed upon Merkel for "her diplomatic and political efforts to develop the political strength of Europe, and to defend the values that allow our continent to find unity in diversity."
A conferring ceremony will be held in Brussels on Jan. 12 in the presence of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, according to the statement.
