Chinese premier arrives in Holland for China-EU summit

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in the Hague on Tuesday to attend the 7th China-EU summit aimed at strengthening the comprehensive and strategic China-EU partnership.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived in the Hague on Tuesday to attend the 7th China-EU summit aimed at strengthening the comprehensive and strategic China-EU partnership.

Wen, who is also on an official visit to the Netherlands, said in a statement upon arrival that he looked forward to an in-depth exchange of views with leaders of the EU and the Netherlands on the future development of China-EU and China-Netherlands relations and on major international issues of common interest.

Wen said China and the EU made a decision at last year's 6th China-EU summit to build a comprehensive and strategic China-EU partnership, thus putting China-EU relations on a track of mature and stable growth.

The premier, who came at the invitation of Jan Peter Balkenende, prime minister of the Netherlands and rotating president of the EU, said that since China and the Netherlands established diplomatic relations, the bilateral ties have continued to develop, with fruitful exchanges and cooperation in the political, economic, trade, scientific, technological, agricultural, educational and other fields.

"The Chinese government attached high importance to the relations with the EU and the Netherlands and stands ready to make joint efforts with the EU and the Netherlands to consolidate the basis and expand the scope for cooperation, thus promoting fresh progress in the relations between the two sides", the premier said.

Chronology of major events in Sino-Dutch relations

May 1972 -- Diplomatic relations are upgraded to the ambassadorial level.

May 1981 -- Diplomatic ties are downgraded to the charge d'affaires level after the Dutch government approves the construction of two submarines for Taiwan by Dutch companies.

February 1984 -- The Netherlands decides not to sell arms to Taiwan and the two countries restore diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level.

June 1995 -- Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok visits China.

September 1996 -- Li Ruihuan, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, visits the Netherlands.

February 1998 -- Chinese Premier Li Peng visits the Netherlands.

April 1999 -- Dutch Queen Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard visits China.

July 2000 -- Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji visits the Netherlands.

April 2004 -- Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende visits China.