Exclusive | Netherlands keen on Chinese investment but wants belt and road to benefit foreign companies

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte sees China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ as an opportunity while suggesting more open tendering before meeting Li Keqiang

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Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, seen here at the Boao Forum for Asia, told the South China Morning Post that many companies from the Netherlands would “love to participate” in China’s belt and road trade plan. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 9:15am, 12 Apr 2018Updated: 11:21pm, 13 Apr 2018

The Netherlands has grown more interested in Chinese investment but remains cautious about the openness and transparency of the new Silk Road, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has said.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Rutte said many companies from the Netherlands “would love to participate” in China’s US$900 billion “Belt and Road Initiative” if China was willing to open up the tendering process for its projects to foreign companies.

“We are looking at whether China is doing most of the work or if there is need for companies from outside China to help,” he said on Monday. “I would like to influence that if possible.

“The overall quality will increase if there are companies from outside China participating on a large scale. There are many companies from the Netherlands who would love to participate.”

Rutte said he would make the case for the involvement of Dutch companies – especially those in logistics and technology fields – when he meets Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing on Thursday, during a five-day visit after attending China’s annual Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan.

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