China seeks for balanced trade with Netherlands: premier

ULAANBAATAR - China seeks for more balanced trade with the Netherlands by encouraging more investment into the Netherlands and importing more quality products from the European country, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said here Saturday.

"Sino-Dutch trade and investment have maintained a high level, which lays a solid foundation for more bilateral cooperation," Li said while meeting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Ulan Bator.

Li hoped that both sides could expand trade and investment, and deepen cooperation in such fields as modern agriculture, energy preservation and environmental protection, and urbanization.

China sees the Netherlands as an important partner in Europe, and is willing to further consolidate political mutual trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation and expand exchanges, so as to ensure healthy development of two-way ties and cooperation, Li added.

The premier hoped that the Netherlands, as an EU member, could do more to further push forward China-EU cooperation.

Rutte, for his part, said the Netherlands was satisfied with its relations with China given frequent high-level exchanges, vibrant trade and investment, and development of two-way ties on the right track.

China's Belt and Road Initiative and the 13th Five-year Plan (2016-2020) offer many opportunities for bilateral cooperation and the Netherlands is willing to have more cooperation with China on such fields as urbanization, clean energy, environmental protection, medicare, and the tackling of an aging society, said Rutte.

The Netherlands also hopes to increase veal export to China, Rutte added.