Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the opening ceremony of the Netherlands-China Trade and Economic Forum in Noordwijk, along with Dutch King Willem-Alexander on Sunday. In the speech at the ceremony, Xi hailed the achievements of pragmatic cooperation between China and the Netherlands.[Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the Netherlands-China Trade and Economic Forum on Sunday in Noordwijk, along with Dutch King Willem-Alexander.

In a speech at the ceremony, Xi hailed the achievements of pragmatic cooperation between China and the Netherlands.

The Netherlands has been China's second biggest trading partner in the EU for 11 years. There are nearly 400 Chinese enterprises and projects in the Netherlands.

Xi said promoting pragmatic cooperation between China and the Netherlands is not only beneficial to the development of the two countries, but also conducive to the stable recovery of the global economy.

The two counties should expand trade on high-tech products and services, and deepen bilateral cooperation in agriculture, energy conservation and city planning, he said.

China is willing to work together with the Dutch side to combat trade protectionism and properly handle the potential trade disputes that might emerge, so as to safeguard the healthy and steady development of China-Europe economic relations, said the Chinese leader.

China is also willing to work together with the Netherlands to make the bilateral relationship a leading example for China's relations with other European countries, Xi said.

"I believe as long as the two governments and our friends from the business circles in both countries keep a firm belief and seize the opportunities, the trade and economic cooperation between China and the Netherlands will make fresh achievements, serving the interests of the two countries and peoples in a better way," Xi said.

King Willem-Alexander said the Netherlands, admiring China's achievements and sharing the same view with China on the opportunities and challenges it faces, is willing to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with China and to make the two countries partners in seeking common prosperity.