On February 17, 2023, Ambassador Fu Cong, Head of the Chinese Mission to the EU, met Robert de Groot, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the EU. They exchanged views on strengthening China-EU and China-Netherlands relations, enhancing mutual trust and stability in China-EU supply chain, and other issues.

Ambassador Fu said that China attaches great importance to developing relations with the EU, upholds the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, and always sees cooperation as the mainstream in China-EU relations. In the face of major issues of global economic recovery and climate change, the significance of China-EU relations for the world is more highlighted. The Netherlands, as an important member of the EU, is one of the first Western countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China. China attaches great importance to developing relations with the Netherlands and stands ready to work with the latter to further promote the healthy and steady development of China-EU and China-Netherlands relations. He looked forward to seeing the Netherlands, an advocate of free trade, work with China to oppose trade protectionism and uphold international economic and trade rules, thus contributing to in-depth communication and cooperation on enhancing mutual trust and stability in supply chains between China and the EU.

Mr. Groot congratulated Ambassador Fu for assuming the new role and said that in the current context, China and the EU have the responsibility in preserving international order, and enhancing communication and cooperation serves the interests of China and the EU and the expectations of the wider international community. He noted the Netherlands’ support for increasing high-level exchanges and dialogue at all levels between the EU and China, as well as more in-depth exchanges and cooperation. The Netherlands upholds open strategic autonomy, supports free trade, opposes decoupling and trade protectionism and stands ready to further deepen cooperation with China in various fields.