China and The Netherlands which share increasingly close trade ties have great potential in scientific and technological cooperation, a Dutch official said Wednesday.
Chris Buijink, director-general for Enterprise and Innovation department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, said China has registered the most rapid economic growth in the world, and attaches more importance to technological innovation. The country's investment in scientific research will probably surpass that of the European Union (EU) by 2010, according to the bloc's estimates.
China's growth provides a huge market for Dutch enterprises, and a great potential for the two sides to cooperate in technological innovation and scientific research, said Buijink.
Buijink was attending a Sino-Dutch economic forum here which attracted the participation of some 100 representatives from the Dutch government, enterprises and scientific institutions.
The official added the Dutch government has set up a scientific and technological office in Beijing to promote bilateral exchanges, and take an active part in technological cooperation programs between China and the EU.
The bloc also hopes to strengthen technological cooperation with China for win-win results, said Buijink.
Forum organizer Chen Yusen said lots of Dutch enterprises are eager to gain access into the Chinese market due to low manufacturing costs and flexibility in scientific research there.
Chinese Scholars and Engineers in The Netherlands can help them, especially the medium or small-sized ones, to improve their understanding of China and promote bilateral trade and technological cooperation, Chen said.
(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2005)
