Li Keqiang Holds a Virtual Meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte

On the afternoon of January 26, 2022, Premier Li Keqiang held a virtual meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the Great Hall of the People.

Li Keqiang once again congratulated Rutte on his re-election as Dutch Prime Minister. He said, the Netherlands is an important partner of China in Europe. China attaches great importance to developing relations with the Netherlands. President Xi Jinping maintained close contact with King Willem-Alexander to promote the development of bilateral relations. China is willing to work with the Netherlands to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ambassadorial level diplomatic relations this year as an opportunity to enhance political mutual trust, promote pragmatic cooperation, enhance people-to-people ties, and promote new development of China-Netherlands relations, so as to create more benefits for the two countries and two peoples.

Li Keqiang pointed out, both China and the Netherlands uphold multilateralism and free trade. China stays committed to the policy of opening up, fostering a business environment that is based on market principles, governed by law and up to international standards, and treating Chinese and foreign enterprises registered in China equally. China supports the establishment of a China-Netherlands Business Council as a new platform for exchanges and cooperation between enterprises of the two countries. China is willing to deepen cooperation with the Netherlands in climate change, science and technology, modern agriculture and other fields. The Netherlands is welcome to export more high-quality agricultural products to the Chinese market.

Li Keqiang stressed, China and the EU share extensive common interests, and should stick to cooperation and dialogue, respect each other, treat each other as equals, properly handle disputes and differences, and strive to promote sound and stable development of China-EU relations. China hopes that the Netherlands, as an important member of the EU, will play a constructive role in promoting China-EU relations and cooperation.

Rutte said, the Netherlands and China have carried out constructive cooperation in a wide range of fields, and bilateral relations enjoy a good momentum of development. The Netherlands hopes to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ambassadorial level diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to expand the positive aspects of bilateral relations, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in fields such as economy, trade, agriculture and circular economy, as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation. I believe that China will definitely host a successful Winter Olympics, and I look forward to the athletes of both countries excelling themselves in the Beijing Olympic Winter Games. The EU and China should strengthen dialogue, work together, properly handle differences, and jointly tackle the pandemic, climate change and other global challenges.

Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Rutte also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

Wang Yi and Xiao Jie attended the above event.