Dutch share multilateral trade goals
China would like to work with the Netherlands and other EU countries to safeguard the multilateral trade system guided by the World Trade Organization and firmly support multilateralism and free trade, Premier Li Keqiang told visiting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Thursday.
The international community is confronted with uncertainties and instability and countries should make economic globalization a more open, inclusive and balanced one, Li said.
Li congratulated Rutte on his election victory last year. “You are welcome to visit China again,” the premier said. “Your participation in the Boao Forum for Asia (in Hainan province) and this official visit demonstrates the importance you have attached to relations with China.”
The Netherlands is a vital trade partner with China under the framework of the European Union, Li said. President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the country in 2014 and both countries announced the beginning of an open and pragmatic comprehensive partnership, the premier said.
The two countries should enhance cooperation in agriculture, finance, and technologies, in addition to peopleto-people exchanges, Li said. China would like to import more agricultural and hightech products from the Netherlands and welcomes investments made by Dutch companies, he said.
Li called on the Netherlands to take a greater role in the Belt and Road Initiative and promote negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty between China and the EU for balanced economic ties.
Li said China will open its door wider and hopes other countries, including the Netherlands and other EU nations, further open up as well to achieve win-win outcomes and economic diversity.
Rutte said the Netherlands firmly supports free trade and opposes protectionism. It safeguards multilateral trade systems tied to the WTO. The EU country would like to enhance strategic alignment with China and reach an EU-China investment treaty as soon as possible, he said.
Rutte said the Netherlands sent four trade missions to China during his visit, the biggest ever organized by his country.
“The Netherlands is China’s third-largest European trading partner. … The base is strong and there is so much we can do in the future,” the Dutch prime minister said.
The prime minister said his country has maintained highlevel ties with China and both countries should strengthen high-level dialogues and pragmatic cooperation to move bilateral ties and ChinaEU ties to a new stage.