Chinese State Council and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday called on the Netherlands to jointly defend multilateralism and free trade.

Wang made the remarks during a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague.

Wang said China and the Netherlands enjoy a mutual bilateral relationship on the basis of mutual respect, mutual understanding, openness and mutual trust.

As the coronavirus pandemic is normalized in both countries, China is willing to work with the Dutch government to resume the flow of goods and people so as to make their contribution to global economic recovery.

Faced with the rising challenge of unilateralism, China would like to work the Dutch side to defend multilateralism and free trade and build a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.

Rutte said the Netherlands values the ties with China and is willing to expand cooperation in different areas.

He praised China's efforts in fighting against COVID-19, saying the Dutch side is willing to work with China in respective areas.

Speaking of the China-U.S. tension, Rutte said the EU, China and the U.S. should seek to strengthen communication instead of isolation, and the decoupling rhetoric does not fit any party's interest.

He also told Wang that the Dutch side is ready to start open and honest talks with China on different issues to increase mutual understanding and friendship.

Wang also met Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok in Voorschoten.

In the post-COVID-19 era, Wang told his counterpart that China is looking forward to advancing ties in fields ranging from agriculture to the aerospace industry and education.

He also called on the Netherlands to provide a fair, open and non-discriminatory environment to Chinese companies.

Speaking of the Belt and Road Initiative, Wang said China is ready to work with the Dutch side to build a maritime "fast track" linking ports in China and the European country.

(Cover: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague, the Netherlands, August 27, 2020. /CCTV)