China, Europe and the Netherlands: Opportunity Is Knocking at Our Doors

Apr. 2015 
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that growth sustainable in terms of natural resources, 
capital and manpower. As partners, China and the EU 
can help each other and learn a great deal from each 
other in this respect. Our specific situations may be 
very different, but in today’s globalized world the future 
is a shared responsibility, encompassing more than just 
economic ties. The 2020 Strategic Agenda for Coopera-
tion, set out in 2013, focuses on underlying themes that 
are important to both China and the EU: from peace 
and security and better market access to sustainable 
development and exchanging knowledge, manpower 
and culture. 
The Netherlands’ role in the EU-China 
cooperation
The Netherlands has always had a special place in 
relations between China and Europe. As early as the 
17th century, Dutch merchantmen plied the trade 
routes to the Far East via present-day Hainan Province 
– the venue for the Boao Forum conference. That spe-
cial relationship between our countries was reaffirmed 
when President Xi Jinping came to the Netherlands on 
a state visit in 2014.
It was his first state visit to an EU member, and 
President Xi pointed out how the Netherlands is Chi-
na’s gateway to Europe. Indeed, that is literally the case, 
given the importance of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 
and Europe’s largest seaport Rotterdam to Chinese ex-
ports. In socio-cultural terms, the relationship between 
our countries is exceptional too – not least thanks to 
the active Chinese community in the Netherlands. 
When he visited our country, President Xi witnessed 
an agreement to set up a new Chinese cultural centre in 
the Netherlands.
The Netherlands wants to be that gateway to Europe 
in the future, so we are investing heavily in our bilat-
eral relationship with China. The trade figures speak 
for themselves. Since the mid-1990s, the goods trade 
between China and the Netherlands has increased 
from about €2.5 billion to €40 billion. No fewer than 
450 Chinese companies have opened branches in the 
Netherlands, including the European headquarters of 
world-renowned brands such as Huawei Enterprise, 
Midea and China Cargo Airlines. A wide variety of Chi-
nese investors are finding their way to the Netherlands. 
Sports promoters United Vansen, for example, have 
bought the professional football club in my hometown 
of The Hague – a striking example which hit the head-
lines in my country.
The Netherlands has always had a special 
place for China as a gateway to Europe. With 
closer ties, and in terms of personnel, trade 
and business facilitation, China and the 
Netherlands can face the same challenges 
together, and offer opportunities to 
businesses in diverse fields.
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016 
  Apr. 2015
Macro Economy 
Opportunities for further cooperation 
We are seeing a similar trend in the contacts be-
tween our peoples. The number of Chinese students in 
our country is increasing steadily and currently stands 
at around 6,700. The number of tourists from China 
is growing faster here than anywhere else. Last year, 
255,000 Chinese tourists visited the Netherlands, and 
in 10 years’ time we expect the number to top 800,000. 
Interestingly, increasing numbers are now also visiting 
the tourist destinations outside Amsterdam, and we are 
very pleased to welcome them. In the village of Giet-
hoorn – our Venice of the North – tourist information 
is even being provided in Chinese.
Another important fact worth mentioning is that 
China and the Netherlands are both involved in com-
bating piracy in international waters and are also en-
gaging in military cooperation as part of the UN’s MI-
NUSMA mission, helping to bring stability to Mali. In 
doing so we are protecting a common interest, because 
safe trade routes and a stable international environ-
ment are essential for the further development of world 
trade. These examples also testify to the responsibility 
China – as a large country and major global player – is 
shouldering when it comes to resolving global issues. 
The Netherlands welcomes this and will endeavor to 
remain an active and reliable partner in this context 
too.
So there is a great deal that unites us and I hope that 
my visit to China will enhance our cooperation further 
– I am convinced that opportunity is knocking at our 
doors. If I look to the future I see us both facing the 
same challenges. How do we deal with an ageing popu-
lation? What do we need to do to cope with the effects 
of climate change? How do we provide enough safe 
food for the expanding world population? And where 
will our energy come from in 2050? The answers to 
these and other major sustainability questions will have 
to come from economic sectors like water, life sciences, 
agri-food and energy; all of which are highly developed 
in the Netherlands. Working together and sharing 
knowledge with our Chinese partners will help us both 
rise to these challenges and at the same time take our 
economies to new heights.
Dutch companies are eager to do business in China 
and our country welcomes Chinese businesses with 
open arms. We have an attractive fiscal, innovation and 
investment climate in an economy that ranks among 
the most stable and competitive in the world. To choose 
the Netherlands as your base is to opt for a highly ed-
ucated and productive workforce, excellent transport 
links, and a country with an international orientation 
and business instincts well matched to those of the Chi-
nese.
Chinese entrepreneurs thinking of setting up busi-
ness in the Netherlands can rely on fast-track visa 
procedures for knowledge migrants and the necessary 
support from the Dutch diplomatic network in China. 
Having recently opened our new consulate-general 
in Chongqing, we now have four Dutch consulates in 
China, as well as the embassy in Beijing and six Neth-
erlands Business Support Offices. For its part, China 
recently opened a new consulate-general in Willem-
stad, Curaçao, one of the countries that make up the 
Kingdom of the Netherlands. Yet more evidence of the 
mutual wish to invest in our strong cooperation.
The Dutch business representatives who will be ac-
companying me to China join me in looking forward to 
strengthening our existing ties and exploring new op-
portunities to work together. I sincerely hope that, true 
to tradition, this Year of the Sheep will indeed bring 
favorable winds that will carry both our economies for-
ward and enhance our relations in every aspect.
Mark Rutte
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
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Jan. 2015
 
 
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Since LSE’s foundation in 1895 the School has engaged with China
 
LSE 
and
 China
The School runs a range of programmes in  
China, including 
•
 A Joint Summer School with Peking University
•
  Double Master Degree Programmes with  
Peking and Fudan Universities 
•
 Public Lectures and Conferences 
•
 Collaborative Research and PhD Exchange
•
 Visiting Scholars Programmes 
•
  Advising and Training on public policy  
and management 
The School’s motto rerum cognoscere causas – To know the cause of things – remains just as relevant in 
our engagement with modern day China. LSE strives to increase understanding of a complex and changing 
world, and China’s place within it, through excellent teaching and research in the social sciences. 
For more information on LSE in China, visit 
www.lse.ac.uk/china
 
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