ExclusiveDutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten set to visit China next spring: sources
Food security and trade ministers have already visited this year, with another, by Economy Minister Heleen Herbert, under consideration
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten is set to visit China next spring, two sources familiar with the planning have told the South China Morning Post.
He would arrive in Beijing at a moment when The Hague finds itself increasingly squeezed by the US-China tech war, with Washington pushing to further restrict sales to China by Dutch semiconductor giant ASML.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately reply to a request for comment faxed by the SCMP.
“The current Dutch government is interested in stable relations with the Chinese government,” said Frans-Paul van der Putten, founder of Dutch consulting firm ChinaGeopolitics.
He said that contrasted with the initial thoughts of many observers, who had expected a tougher stance following the formation of Jetten’s cabinet because it included ministers with a history of criticising Beijing, including Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma who was subjected to sanctions by China in 2021 for his criticism of alleged human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
Van der Putten said the key factor was the changing relationship between the United States and Europe, because with Washington no longer proving to be the reliable ally it once was, the Dutch government had been forced to diversify.