Will the Netherlands go Dutch on Beijing-led Asian bank? PM Rutte remains tight-lipped
Netherlands to help in hunt for fugitives, but PM is coy about AIIB before meeting with Xi
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte yesterday pledged to work with China in its hunt for fugitive officials - but remained tight-lipped over whether the Netherlands would sign up to the Beijing-led Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank.
Speaking to reporters in Shenzhen, Rutte praised China's international initiatives including the 'One Belt, One Road' economic strategy and its leading role in the AIIB, but refused to comment on Dutch involvement ahead of a key meeting with President Xi Jinping today.
"We are looking at [the AIIB] with great interest but the final announcement will be made after my meeting with President Xi," Rutte said.
Rutte is to meet Xi today at the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan province.
"China taking on the initiative is a good thing in itself," Rutte said, but he would not say whether he saw the AIIB as a competitor to European institutions.
He said the Netherlands would cooperate with Beijing in "an open manner" in its pursuit of corrupt officials who had fled overseas, but did not specifically mention Operation Skynet, which is targeting the financial channels fugitives use to transfer illicit assets abroad.
Rutte has been in China since Tuesday, joined by Environment Minister Wilma Mansveld and more than 70 Dutch business leaders in a trade mission to Shanghai and Shenzhen. The visit ends tomorrow.