Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima have begun a two-day visit in China. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan met the royal couple in Beijing on Wednesday.

President Xi Jinping said since he paid a state visit to the Netherlands in 2014, the two countries have entered the best era of bilateral ties. The Chinese president said Sino-Dutch relations are facing new opportunities for development, and hope there will be beneficial cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Earlier, in a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, King Willem-Alexander said the Netherlands welcomes China's investment and is willing to strengthen cooperation in trade, agriculture, logistics and transportation, and further open up the market. The Dutch king made his first official trip to China in 2015.