In recent years, bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and the Netherlands have developed in a rapid and healthy way. Since the historic visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Netherlands in 2014, the leaders of bothcountries have paid mutual visits as many as eight times. Such frequent high-level interactions have consolidated the open and pragmatic partnership for comprehensive cooperation between both countries. China and the Netherlands are becoming each other's important trading and investment partners.
   In 2017 and 2018, the Sino-Dutch trade volume reached historical highs, with 78.6 billion U.S. dollars and 85.2 billion U.S. dollars respectively. In contrast with the overall decline in world trade, the total Sino-Dutch trade volume in 2019 remained the same as that in 2018. In the first half of 2020, despite the impact of the pandemic, Dutch exports to China rose against the global downward trend. At present, the Netherlands is China's second largest trading partner within the EU and China is the Netherlands' third largest trading partner outside the EU.
   At the same time, a larger number of outstanding Chinese and Dutch companies are launching mutually beneficial cooperation. The number of Chinese-funded enterprises in the Netherlands is growing, involving trade, logistics,agriculture, IT, finance and other fields. They have set up over 700 green-field investment projects in the Netherlands, creating nearly 16,000 jobs. Those enterprises have made remarkable achievements in serving the overall bilateral relations, innovating overseas development and performing their social responsibilities.
   The Association of Chinese Enterprises in the Netherlands was founded in 2005.Since then, it has been innovating its working methods, improving its service and expanding its membership. It has made great and effective efforts in improving the organization structure, establishing economic and trade cooperation platforms, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of members, ensuring safe production and operation and carrying out bilateral economic and trade activities. With its increasing influence in the Netherlands, the association has become a backbone in promoting the bilateral pragmatic cooperation. In particular, after the outbreak of the Coronavirus in 2020, all members worked hand-in-hand and cooperated with their Dutch partners to donate and transport a large number of virus prevention materials for both Dutch and Chinese medical institutions and contributed to the fight against the pandemic and the restart of production in both countries.
   China and the Netherlands have complementary economic advantages and share common development concepts. They have great potential for cooperation in such fields as agricultural water conservancy, IT,life sciences, new energy, intelligent transportation, and cross-border e-commerce. In particular, the “Belt and Road” initiative continues to build consensus between the two sides and pool their willingness to cooperate,providing new impetus for China and the Netherlands to deepen pragmatic cooperation and create an efficient and unblocked Asia-Europe channel. I believe that the Association of Chinese Enterprises in the Netherlands can continue to play a leading role in providing service and serving as the bridge and contribute to the sustainable, healthy and stable development of Sino-Dutch economic and trade relations.

Zhang Guosheng
Economic and Commercial Counselor
Embassy of Chinain the Netherlands
August 2020