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Netherlands is China's trustworthy partner: Dutch PM
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-22 09:31 BRUSSELS -- The Netherlands is a "trustworthy partner" of China and a "stable and prosperous" China is in the interest of the Netherlands, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende told Xinhua in a written interview Tuesday. The Netherlands sees "strategic importance" in its relations with China and looks to enhance cooperation with it in both economic and political fields, Balkenende said on the eve of a seven-day visit to the Asian nation. During the visit, his third to China since taking office in 2002, Balkenende will meet Chinese leaders and attend the Asia-Europe Meeting summit in Beijing, scheduled for later this week.
Relations between China and the Netherlands have increasingly intensified since the establishment of diplomatic ties 36 years ago, Balkenende said. The Netherlands is now China's second largest trading partner in Europe and the government and private sectors of both nations work closely together in important areas like agriculture and science and technology, he noted. Commenting on the impact of China's growth on the Netherlands, Balkenende said his country, as a trading nation, has benefited in many respects from China's booming economy. "The Netherlands certainly does not regard China as a threat," he said. "Many Chinese products pass through Rotterdam, one of the biggest ports of Europe, thereby creating employment. Moreover, imports from China keep our inflation low," the prime minister said. "We want a stable, prosperous, sustainable and responsible China. That is the key to our numerous areas of cooperation," he stressed. Balkenende sees great potential for bilateral cooperation in many areas, particularly in agriculture, energy and environment. "International food markets are changing. With more people to feed, this poses challenges for China. Our agricultural technology, for example in green genetics, can be beneficial to Chinese farmers," he said. On energy and environment, the Netherlands can offer technologies to reduce pollution and the two countries can work on cleaner and more efficient energy technologies, Balkenende said. The Netherlands welcomes Chinese investors, he added. He mentioned Haier, Hisense and Huawei as good examples of Chinese enterprises that have increasingly found added value by opening branches in the Netherlands, seen by many as a gateway to Europe. |
