China, Netherlands express opposition to protectionism

China and the Netherlands expressed their joint commitment to oppose protectionism, China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on its website on May 9.

China and the Netherlands share complementary economies and the trade outlook is optimistic, Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng said on May 8 during a meeting with Lilianne Ploumen, the Netherlands' minister for foreign trade and development cooperation.

China hopes to sign an agreement to avoid double taxation in the Netherlands as soon as possible to build up a favorable legal environment for mutual benefit, Gao said.

He also called on the Netherlands to use its influence to urge the European Union to use trade remedy-measures prudently.

China and the Netherlands have the same position in advancing the Doha Round and are jointly determined to achieve an early-harvest before the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference, which will take place in Bali, Indonesia, in the first week of December, Gao said.

Ploumen said that China's steady economic growth benefits the Netherlands and the EU amid the sluggish world economy. She added that the Netherlands supports a multilateral trade system and opposes trade protectionism and hopes to advance the Doha Round for the conclusion as soon as possible.

Both sides should also strengthen cooperation in intellectual property, corporate social responsibility, food safety, agricultural technology and trade of agricultural products, Ploumen said.