Premier Li Keqiang said on July 16 that China encouraged more domestic companies to invest in the Netherlands, during a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Ulaanbaatar.

Premier Li said the Netherlands was China’s important partner in Europe. China would work with the Netherlands to strengthen mutual political trust, pragmatic cooperation and friendly exchanges based on mutual respect and openness.

He also said lively bilateral trade and investment proved the cooperation between the two countries had a solid foundation and good prospects. He hoped that both sides could expand cooperation in fields such as modern agriculture, environmental protection and urbanization.

China would further develop the trade and investment between the two countries, encouraging more investment from Chinese companies and communicating with the Netherlands on the import of Dutch quality products, Premier Li said. He also hoped for more contribution from the Netherlands to the China-EU cooperation.

Rutte said the Netherlands’ government was satisfied with the current Sino-Netherlands bilateral relationship due to frequent high-level exchanges and dynamic bilateral trade and investment. China’s “Belt and Road” initiative and the 13th Five-Year Plan have been bringing many opportunities to the cooperation. The Netherlands is willing to boost the collaboration in urbanization, clean energy, environmental protection, medical and health services, aging problems and other areas. He also wished for more exports of Dutch veal to China.