Dutch king visits China to boost ties

World Today

Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands in Beijing on Oct. 26. This is the king’s first state visit to China since he ascended to the throne in April 2013.

During the meeting, the two leaders spoke highly of the achievements that have been made in the development of Sino-Dutch relations. They also pledged to maintain the momentum of the open and pragmatic partnership between the two countries.

President Xi expressed willingness to boost bilateral cooperation in various fields such as the economy, human rights, peace-keeping, new energy, agriculture, and technology. He also stressed the importance of developing relations with the European Union, and said that a steady Sino-Dutch partnership will contribute to promoting China-EU relations.

Willem-Alexander also met Premier Li Keqiang, and praised China’s Belt and Road Initiative, pledging to cooperate in the project.

The king, who will be in China until Thursday, is accompanied by an economic and trade mission that includes representatives from sectors as diverse as agriculture, sports, and health care.