On the evening of December 23, 2020, Premier Li Keqiang had a phone conversation with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at the latter's request.
Li Keqiang said, the China-Netherlands relations are currently in good shape. Bilateral cooperation in various fields continues to move forward with rich results achieved despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. He hopes that China and the Netherlands will conduct exchanges and dialogue based on equality and mutual respect, and facilitate personnel exchanges and practical cooperation between the two countries while giving due consideration to pandemic prevention and control. China is willing to work together with the European Union (EU) for an early conclusion of the negotiations for the China-EU investment agreement.
Li Keqiang pointed out, at present, the world economic recovery is in a difficult process. China has coordinated the pandemic prevention and control with the social and economic development and with concerted efforts throughout the country, China is on path to achieve positive economic growth for the year. China will maintain continuity, stability and sustainability of the macro policies, and ensure that macro-control measures are in line with market rules and become more targeted and effective, which will subject to orderly adjustments rather than "sharp turns". China will strive to keep its economy running in a reasonable range and achieve a steady and sound development, which will open more space for cooperation with the Netherlands as well as the EU.
Rutte said, China is an important partner of the Netherlands. The two countries' joint fight against the pandemic shows the friendship between the two sides. The Netherlands is willing to further strengthen exchanges with China and expand bilateral cooperation in the fields such as trade and economy, investment and addressing climate change. The Netherlands expects an early conclusion of negotiations for the EU-China investment agreement, which will promote better development of the EU-China relations.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Head of the National Development and Reform Commission He Lifeng were present.