China and the Netherlands yesterday agreed to promote a
"comprehensive and mutually-beneficial partnership" to emphasize
the strategic importance of their ties.
The agreement was reached when Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with his Dutch counterpart
Maxime Verhagen in Beijing yesterday.
A joint statement issued after their talks said the two sides
had agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and intensify
cooperation in trade, science and technology, agriculture,
environment, energy, climate change, water resources management,
health and education.
Both countries recognize the importance of the comprehensive
strategic partnership between China and the European Union (EU) in
enhancing their relations.
The Dutch delegation said it was politically willing to help
lift EU's arms embargo against China. The joint statement said the
Netherlands understood the significance of granting complete market
status to China.
The two sides agreed that China and the EU should step up
dialogues on Beijing's status as a market economy.
"We are not against lifting the arms embargo," Verhagen told
China Daily yesterday. His two-day visit to China is the
first after he assumed office in February, following the Dutch
general elections in November 2006.
The Dutch foreign minister is impressed by China's dynamic
economic growth. "China has an increasing role in international
affairs," he said, citing the important role China plays in the
Six-Party Talks to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean
Peninsula and the Darfur issue in Sudan.
"China also has (increasing) responsibilities if you look into
the problems on the international stage. It has the responsibility
to contribute to the solutions."
Verhagen's visit coincides with the 35th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Netherlands,
and takes place shortly after China appointed Yang as its new
foreign minister.
Verhagen said he was most impressed by Yang's knowledge, "not
only about European affairs, but also about the situation in the
Netherlands."
"I have great confidence in a constructive cooperation with
him."
(China Daily May 17, 2007)
