Chinese Vice Premier in the Netherlands. What's Next?
THE HAGUE, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) – Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang concluded a two-day visit to the Netherlands from January 22 to 23, where he met with Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and Deputy Prime Minister Sophie Hermans. The visit focused on fostering an open world economy and strengthening cooperation in green development, trade, and climate initiatives.
During his meetings, Vice Premier Ding highlighted the progress made under the strategic partnership between China and the Netherlands. He emphasized China’s commitment to high-quality development and called for greater bilateral communication and trust to drive mutual growth. Ding also welcomed Dutch companies to deepen their cooperation with China and urged the Netherlands to ensure a fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese firms.
As this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations, Ding encouraged the Netherlands to play a constructive role in promoting China-EU ties. Dutch leaders responded positively, with King Willem-Alexander underscoring the importance of mutual trust and collaboration to address global challenges.
Prime Minister Schoof expressed admiration for China’s development achievements and stressed the Netherlands’ willingness to strengthen cooperation in key areas such as water management, healthcare, and green development. Deputy Prime Minister Hermans praised China’s environmental contributions and voiced interest in expanding collaboration in clean energy, the circular economy, and climate adaptation.
What’s Next?
The visit has laid the foundation for deeper ties between China and the Netherlands. Moving forward, the following developments are expected:
- Bilateral Trade and Investment Growth: Both countries emphasized the importance of openness and mutual trust. This could translate into increased trade opportunities, with Dutch businesses exploring the Chinese market and China fostering partnerships in the Netherlands.
- Green Development Partnerships and Climate Initiatives: Discussions about clean energy, climate adaptation, and the circular economy are likely to lead to joint projects, reflecting both countries’ commitments to the Paris Agreement and sustainable development goals.
- Strengthening China-EU Relations and Global Diplomacy: The Netherlands is expected to play a key role in enhancing dialogue and cooperation between China and the European Union during the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations
- Stabilizing Global Supply Chains and Promoting Free Trade: The shared commitment to safeguarding free trade and ensuring stable global supply chains indicates further collaboration to mitigate trade disruptions and enhance economic resilience, particularly in the face of growing geopolitical tensions.
Vice Premier Ding’s visit underscores the importance of China-Netherlands relations in tackling shared global challenges and fostering mutual growth. The outcomes of this visit could pave the way for significant advancements in trade, sustainability, and international cooperation in the years ahead.
Source: Xinhua News Agency (Huang Jingwen, Shen Hong)