Dutch Prime Minister To Start China Tour On Friday

The Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte will pay a two-day official visit to China on Friday. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will visit China on November 15 and November 16 along with Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen, the Dutch government said. Ploumen will start her trip a day earlier, joining Bernard Wientjes, chair of employers' association VNO-NCW, and a trade delegation of 14 Dutch chief executive officers (CEO). Prime Minister Mark Rutte / Wikipedia The aim of the visit is to further strengthen diplomatic and economies ties between the two countries. The agenda includes meetings with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman of the National People's Congress Zhang Dejiang, as well as company visits and meetings with Dutch and Chinese businesses, the government said. The Netherlands is China's second-largest trading partner in the European Union. In 2012, trade between the two countries was worth some €39.5 billion. On the morning of Friday, Mr. Rutte will meet with Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing. This will be followed by a round-table discussion between Mr. Rutte, Ploumen and CEOs from Dutch and Chinese companies on economic cooperation between the two countries, the government said. Mr. Rutte and Ploumen will then meet with Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the National People's Congress. At the end of the afternoon, they will join President Xi Jinping for dinner. The day will end with a trade reception for Dutch and Chinese companies at which various contracts and agreements will be signed. On the morning of Saturday, Mr. Rutte and Ploumen will attend a Chinese-Dutch investment summit at the Bank of China. Mr. Rutte will then visit Teesing Industrial Systems. At the same time, Ploumen will visit Boon Edam, a Dutch firm that manufactures revolving doors and security barriers for the global market. She will then travel with a trade delegation to Myanmar. In the afternoon, Mr.Rutte will join Premier Li Keqiang for a lunch meeting with representatives of FrieslandCampina, China Agricultural University and Wageningen University, who will sign a dairy cooperation agreement. Mr. Rutte will then visit the Forbidden City and Coal Hill in Jingshan Park.