Chinese Premier in Netherlands: Li Keqiang meets Dutch PM at start of two-day visit

World
Europe

01:58

We begin with renewing friendships and strengthening economic ties. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has begun his official visit to the Netherlands by meeting Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Increasing free trade and boosting bilateral cooperation topped the agenda. CGTN's Mariam Zaidi reports from The Hague.

The Netherlands and China have pledged to ink deals to the tune of 10 billion dollars, in a hope to ratchet up commerce and trade between Dutch and Chinese companies. This is the first official visit of a Chinese Premier in 14 years to The Netherlands. On Monday morning Premier Li arrived at the Binnenhof, the official seat of the Dutch parliament, greeted by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

The two sides held bilateral meetings promising to open up further cooperation in agriculture, the service industry and manufacturing. During their joint press conference, Premier Li called Netherlands a portal to Europe. And promised that China would make a bigger effort to open domestic markets to Dutch investment. Both Premier Li and Rutte said multilateralism and free trade must be upheld.

LI KEQIANG CHINESE PREMIER "We want to work with the Netherlands to show the international community our common position for upholding multilateralism and free trade. We are living at a time of complex shifting dynamics in the political and economic landscapes, with growing uncertainties, and we need to show wisdom and form a joint effort in upholding multilateralism and free trade."

The hope is that China can use this visit to boost trade with the European bloc as a whole. Especially in the face of INCREASINGLY strained relations with the United States.

MARIAM ZAIDI THE HAGUE "On Tuesday, Premier Li will participate in the China-Dutch Business Forum that's focused on high-tech innovation. Some 150 Chinese companies along with hundreds of Dutch entrepreneurs will be showcasing their products there. The two sides are expected to sign a series of agreements on energy, finance and aviation. Mariam Zaidi, CGTN, the Hague."