Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen on Friday vowed to further strengthen Dutch-Chinese relations, saying bilateral ties have flourished in the past 35 years.

"Bilateral relations are very good," Verhagen told Xinhua prior to his visit to China next week.

Cooperation has made substantial progress in trade, agriculture, politics, culture, environment and water management, the foreign minister said in a written interview.

He also sees good prospects for cooperation in innovation, the sustainable use of energy and corporate social responsibilities.

During his visit to Beijing from May 15-17, his first ever trip to China, Verhagen is expected to meet with China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

He will also take part in activities to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Verhagen said he is eager to get acquainted with his Chinese counterpart, who is also new in office.

Another key objective is to promote the implementation of the Dutch policy memorandum on China published last June, he said.

The Dutch government's policy memorandum on China -- "Shaping a relationship for bilateral cooperation with China, for 2006-2010" -- examines key aspects of bilateral relations and names the main areas where the Netherlands should deepen cooperation with China and the possible approaches.

"The message in the policy memorandum is clear: we consider China to be a partner and a friend. Cooperation between our two countries creates opportunities," said the 50-year-old foreign minister.

Trade between the Netherlands and China grew rapidly in the past decade. The Netherlands is China's second-largest trading partner within the European Union (EU). Bilateral trade stood at 34.5 billion U.S. dollars last year.

The Netherlands is also one of the largest investors in China. Dutch investment in China totaled 7.7 billion dollars as of November last year.

Verhagen, who took office in February following the Dutch general elections last November, said his visit will hopefully lay the groundwork for a future broad structure of bilateral relations, which will be set up under the guidance of prime ministers from both sides.

"Such a future structure could include a bilateral coordination mechanism, a joint working program and an agreement on regular political and economic consultations," Verhagen said, adding that the envisaged structure will contribute to the continuity and solidity of bilateral ties.

On the issue of Taiwan, Verhagen said "Dutch-Chinese relations are based on the one-China policy" and the Netherlands' current ties with Taiwan in economy and trade, culture and science are "within the framework of the one-China policy."

The Dutch foreign minister spoke highly of China's increasing involvement in regional and international affairs, citing China's role in the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and China's contribution to UN peacekeeping operations.

"I very much welcome an increasingly important role of China in regional and international affairs," he said.

Regarding the EU's arms embargo on China, Verhagen said the position of the Netherlands, and the EU, is well-known and has not changed. "We are not in principle against lifting the arms embargo, provided that the context would be favorable for such a move. Therefore the timing is not right for such a decision," he said.

"It is therefore important to continue dialogue on subjects related to international security and the rule of law," the foreign minister said, adding that among others, key aspects of discussion are security and stability in the region and the EU's relations with its allies.

"The Netherlands would like to see a stable, responsible and sustainable China. Similarly, it is in China's interests that the Netherlands be reliable, influential and innovative," he said.

Source: Xinhua