China Netherlands Photo: VCG

The Netherlands remains a “gateway” for China-EU cooperation, and China-Netherlands relationship has maintained a good development momentum, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday via a phone call with his counterpart Hanke Bruins Slot.

After the pandemic, exchanges between the two countries in various fields have fully restored, and the rapid growth of Dutch exports to China has demonstrated the great potential of cooperation between the two countries, Wang said.

“We hope that the Dutch side will adhere to the principle of independence, follow the rules of international trade and jointly promote bilateral cooperation in various fields such as economic and trade, science and technology, and innovation, and jointly safeguard the stability of global industrial and supply chains,” Wang noted.

Slot said that Dutch-Chinese trade relations remain strong, with China being the Netherlands' most important trading partner in Asia. She expressed willingness to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China and work together to promote further development of the comprehensive partnership between the two nations.

Wang and Slot also exchanged views on China-EU relations. Wang emphasized that there is no fundamental conflict of interest between China and the EU, and that consensus far outweighs areas of difference. 

Wang said that China-EU relations do not depend on a third party, nor should they be disturbed by a third party. China is willing to work with Europe to promote sustained, healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, and hopes that the Dutch side will continue to play a constructive role in this regard, and work together to prepare for the next stage of high-level exchanges between China and the EU.

Dutch chip company ASML participated in the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Shanghai. 

“The annual CIIE has continued to demonstrate China’s long-term resolve to foster an open and cooperative market environment, and the spirit of openness embodied by the CIIE is consistent with ASML’s pursuit of open cooperation,” Shen Bo, senior vice president of ASML and president of ASML China, told the Global Times.

Global Times