Leaders vow development at higher levels while exchanging congratulations

People visit a photo exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Netherlands in The Hague on May 17, 2022. (PHOTO/XINHUA)

President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages on Wednesday with King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In his message, Xi pointed out that since the ties' establishment and with the joint efforts of both sides, the bilateral relations have developed on a constant basis and cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results.

Xi noted that in 2014, he and King Willem-Alexander upgraded China-Netherlands relations to an open and pragmatic partnership for comprehensive cooperation, and the role of the Netherlands as a "gateway" in China-EU cooperation has become more prominent.

After the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, China and the Netherlands supported each other, demonstrating the profound friendship between the two peoples, Xi added.

Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Netherlands relations and is willing to work with King Willem-Alexander to promote the sustainable, healthy and stable development of bilateral relations for the benefit of the two countries and their peoples.

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King Willem-Alexander said that over the 50 years, bilateral ties have developed vigorously and exchanges in areas such as the economy, trade and culture have been full of life.

It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, the outstanding and productive relations between the Netherlands and China will be further consolidated and developed, he said.

President Xi Jinping said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Netherlands relations and is willing to work with King Willem-Alexander to promote the sustainable, healthy and stable development of bilateral relations for the benefit of the two countries and their peoples

Also on Wednesday, Premier Li Keqiang and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte exchanged congratulatory messages.

Li said that China is willing to take the opportunity of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations to further strengthen exchanges in various fields, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and take China-Netherlands relations to higher levels.

Rutte said that since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, relations between the two countries have made considerable progress. It is hoped that the two sides will deepen cooperation, jointly promote economic recovery and further deal with climate change, he said.

Diplomats upbeat

In The Hague, veteran Dutch diplomat Peter Potman said he has witnessed firsthand the rapid development of the bilateral relationship between China and the Netherlands in the past decades.

Potman's first diplomatic posting abroad was as third secretary in Beijing at the end of 1980s.

"At the time, trade between the Netherlands and China was not as developed as it is now, only a handful of (Dutch) companies had investments in China," he told nearly 100 guests attending a reception on Tuesday evening at the Chinese embassy in The Hague to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Returning to China in 2011 as the Netherlands' consul-general in Shanghai, Potman saw huge progress.

"All major Dutch companies had, and still have, investments in China, and the country hosts the largest Dutch diplomatic network in the world," said Potman, who is now deputy director-general for foreign economic relations at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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He said also that he has witnessed the economic miracle in China, citing the fact that China has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, become a crucial player in a globalized world and the world's second-largest economy.

"China is a fast-growing market for Dutch businesses. Its large R&D budgets, large pool of talent and high-quality knowledge infrastructure offer many opportunities, especially in sectors such as agriculture, health, environment and logistics," he said.

All major Dutch companies now have investments in China and more than 700 Dutch companies are active in the country, according to Potman.

Key partner

Potman dismissed the argument by some in Europe for more protectionism and decoupling with the Chinese economy as a way to achieve strategic autonomy, saying that "we should not forget that China is one of the Netherlands' key trade and investment partners".

"Our relationship is important for the prosperity of both our countries. Although we do not always agree with each other, we should continue to work together on shared interests," he said.

The reception on Tuesday evening was held along with a photo exhibition displaying the major milestones in bilateral relations in various fields in the past 50 years.

"As you will see when you wander through the beautiful exhibition, the Netherlands and China have seized opportunities when they arose in the past, and we will do the same in the future," Potman said.

While a visit to China is difficult due to the strict COVID-19 pandemic measures, Potman was happy about a successful trade mission conducted online last week, where 25 Dutch companies introduced themselves to Chinese partners, focusing on circular economy and offshore wind.

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Potman pointed out that the photo exhibition reminds people that relations between countries are much more than just geopolitics and international diplomacy.

"And so it is with confidence that I look ahead to the next 50 years in our bilateral relations," he said.

Chinese Ambassador to the Netherlands Tan Jian echoed the views, noting that bilateral trade has grown nearly 1,700 times in the past 50 years, from $69 million in 1972 to more than $116 billion in 2021.

The Netherlands is China's second-largest trading partner in Europe, trailing Germany. It is the top destination in the European Union for Chinese investment, and the second-largest investor in China among EU member states.

Tan said that China has benefited from Dutch investment, with the Netherlands being a developed economy and boasting many world-class high-tech companies.

"Dutch businesspeople have told me that the huge market of China is indispensable for Dutch companies to stay super competitive," he added.