Consul General of the Netherlands in Shanghai Marjo Crompvoets

Editor's Note:

The Fourth China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10 as scheduled. Despite the difficulties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, global traders plan to gather at the annual event online and offline to showcase their products and services in fields such as healthcare, artificial intelligence (AI) and carbon neutrality, looking to boost their performance in the Chinese market.

The Global Times (GT) interviewed 15 foreign diplomats in Beijing and Shanghai about their engagement and expectations for this year's CIIE. Here is：

Marjo Crompvoets
Consul General of the Netherlands in Shanghai

GT: How does the Netherlands plan to engage in the CIIE despite facing challenges from COVID-19?

Marjo Crompvoets: This year we have 12 Dutch companies - well known ones like Philips, Signify, ASML, Port of Rotterdam but also SMEs, participating at the CIIE. Most of them are active in the medical and health care sector. Some are in food and agriculture. But all in all they are working towards building a more sustainable and better future. I think in a way their participation is a reflection of our common responses to the post pandemic world - that is, we have come to a clearer realization that human health and the health of the planet goes hand in hand. Both are equally of great importance to our future.

The private sector plays a pivotal role in combating the pandemic (vaccinations, treatments) and that's why we need to encourage more R&D. Global threats need global collaboration. In this regard, I believe fairs such as the CIIE can play a positive role in facilitating more collaboration.

GT: What are your expectations for the upcoming CIIE?

Marjo Crompvoets: It will be my first CIIE as the new Dutch Consul General in Shanghai. I very much look forward to it. I've heard a lot about it from my colleagues - the sheer size of it is already astonishing. I would like to visit the Dutch companies and some Chinese companies which are in fact a direct result of Sino-Dutch collaboration. 

For instance, we have a Chinese milk power company which in fact has strong Dutch roots - Chinese investors acquired a Dutch diary company, helping them secure stable and high quality milk sources and production base.

I am also aware there will be lots of side events around the CIIE. I am very interested in those events, which I am sure will help us understand the current trends and business environment.