China wants to enhance high level exchanges and work with the Netherlands on economic and technological development, said Premier Wen Jiabao Tuesday when meeting with visiting Holland Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.  

"Sino-Dutch relations have maintained an excellent momentum in recent years," Wen said. "Bilateral economic and trade cooperation kept increasing."

China and the Netherlands have successfully worked together in agriculture and technology, he added.

The bilateral trade volume jumped 44.3 percent last year, making the Netherlands China's second largest trade partner among all the European Union members, Wen said.

No political obstacles exist between China and the Netherlands and the two nations should open their mind to enlarge bilateral cooperation, he stressed.

Echoing Wen's suggestions, Balkenende said the Netherlands attaches great importance to and is satisfied with the good relations and cooperation with China.

The Netherlands hopes to strengthen cooperation in the fields of agriculture, environmental protection and transportation, said the Holland prime minister, who is on a four-day work visit to China.

The two leaders also exchanged views on Sino-EU relations.

Having no conflicts concerning substantial interests, China and EU reached a consensus last year to build a strategic partnership, Wen said.

The bilateral trade volume between China and EU topped US$100 billion last year for the first time, indicating a win-win pattern has taken shape, he added.

China and the EU share opinions on many important international issues, Wen said, adding both hold that the United Nations' role should be enhanced to maintain smooth relations around the globe.

China hopes the Netherlands, whose turn it will be to chair the EU, could play a positive role in pushing forward all around Sino-EU relations, Wen said.

The EU and China have enlarged cooperation and exchanges in political and economic fields in recent years, said the Holland prime minister.

The Netherlands could make positive efforts to enhance EU-China relations, he added.

Expressing his appreciation towards China for its recent achievement in improving its human rights record, the Holland prime minister said he hopes dialogues between EU and China will harvest more fruits and deepen mutual understanding.

In his first visit to China, the Holland PM is also scheduled to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao today.

(China Daily April 7, 2004)