Rutte welcomes Chinese president Xi Jinping

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD) received the Chinese president Xi Jinping on Sunday, at the Catshuis in The Hague. This is the Chinese president's first visit to Europe as leader. Topics of discussion ranged from econmy, trade and investment, but also international issues such as the upcoming Nuclear Summit in The Hague as well as collaboration in Mali. Xi Jinping sees The Netherlands as "the port of Europe." The meeting concluded with the signing of several agreements about collaboration in the area of dairy and energy, and the creation of a joint cultural center. Later on Sunday morning, Xi was a guest at the Sino-Dutch Economic Forum in Noordwijk, at which King Willem-Alexander was also present. The forum will bring together 200 Chinese companies and 200 representatives of Dutch trade and industry. The Chinese president then departed with his wife Peng Liyuan and the royal couple to the Keukenhof. The royal couple, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima received Xi Jinping at Schiphol airport on Saturday. The president and his wife were treated to a state banquet at the Royal Palace on the Dam in Amsterdam. Xi Jinping's key European visit will also include France, Germany and Belgium.