China and the Netherlands have reached an agreement
Unexpectedly, the new Dutch government's first action was to ease relations with China!
They hope to completely reverse the negative impression left by the previous government towards China, trying to save Sino-Dutch relations, and further expand cooperation.
After all, European countries are now rushing to visit China. Especially Germany and France have stated that they want to accelerate cooperation with China. Let alone the EU has already reached an agreement with China. Therefore, the Netherlands chose to call China proactively.
It is reported that on March 13, the Netherlands made a call to China.
The new Dutch foreign minister, Beringhsen, called Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and made the following commitments:
First, the Netherlands places great importance on the development of relations with China and hopes to maintain high-level exchanges with China, exploring more cooperation.
Second, it is willing to uphold multilateralism and promote the two countries' cooperation to a new level.
Third, it is willing to play a constructive role in the development of Sino-EU relations.
Why is the Netherlands so eager?
First, the Netherlands does not want to wait any longer, because all European countries want to become the new core of Europe. It is known that Germany's GDP growth will be only 0.2% in 2025. As the barometer of the European economy, Germany's performance is so poor, let alone other countries. For example, France only has a growth of 0.9%.
The reason behind this is that the previous governments followed a series of wrong policies, affecting cooperation with China. As European mainstream countries choose to actively show goodwill to China and sign a series of cooperation agreements, the Netherlands understands that if it continues to follow the old path, its economic development will fall into a quagmire, and the new government will not last long.
Second, China's economic strength is gradually increasing, and its overall strength is even more remarkable, growing day by day. The Netherlands realizes that continuing to restrict China will not work, but instead will be surpassed by China.
In that case, the Netherlands' core industry, semiconductors, will be left behind by China. Rather than that, it is better to prioritize cooperation and achieve win-win results.
Third, the new Dutch government clearly knows that the previous government took a series of wrong actions, which were guided by the United States. They don't want to repeat the same mistakes.
Not to mention the current fluctuating tariff policies of the United States, which have led to a delicate relationship between the US and Europe.
The Dutch government needs to find a new path, showing the people real changes, thus consolidating its governance, enhancing personal authority, and expanding influence.
Fourth, the current international situation is not optimistic. The US's hegemonism is rampant globally. China immediately stood up and expressed a different view, effectively maintaining the international order. The Netherlands also needs support and statements from China on some issues.
What measures might the Netherlands take next?
First, it may repeal a series of policies previously introduced by the government. This can be referenced to Canada, where the Kenney government repealed a series of measures against China that were unfavorable to the country, accelerating its goodwill toward China.
Second, it may quickly start a visit to China. Because European countries have already visited China one after another, the Netherlands does not want to show goodwill to China only in words, but to implement it in actions.
Third, it may choose to support China in more international affairs. This not only shows goodwill to China, facilitates later cooperation, but also helps China gain more international support.
In summary: The Netherlands' proactive goodwill toward China has been praised by Wang Yi. The new government has shown a new style and new initiatives, capable of taking an independent and self-reliant path. This is a good thing.
It is expected that there will be more cooperation in high-tech fields in the future. However, as always, the Netherlands must put its actions into practice to truly restore relations with China. It should do more things that benefit the improvement of bilateral relations, rather than doing one thing in public and another behind the scenes.
Not to mention that Trump is about to visit China. The Netherlands must seize the opportunity.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1859607444439116/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.