China and the Netherlands yesterday agreed to promote a "comprehensive and mutually-beneficial partnership" to emphasize the strategic importance of their ties.

The agreement was reached when Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with his Dutch counterpart Maxime Verhagen in Beijing yesterday.

A joint statement issued after their talks said the two sides had agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and intensify cooperation in trade, science and technology, agriculture, environment, energy, climate change, water resources management, health and education.

Both countries recognize the importance of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the European Union (EU) in enhancing their relations.

The Dutch delegation said it was politically willing to help lift EU's arms embargo against China. The joint statement said the Netherlands understood the significance of granting complete market status to China.

The two sides agreed that China and the EU should step up dialogues on Beijing's status as a market economy.

"We are not against lifting the arms embargo," Verhagen told China Daily yesterday. His two-day visit to China is the first after he assumed office in February, following the Dutch general elections in November 2006.

The Dutch foreign minister is impressed by China's dynamic economic growth. "China has an increasing role in international affairs," he said, citing the important role China plays in the Six-Party Talks to resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and the Darfur issue in Sudan.

"China also has (increasing) responsibilities if you look into the problems on the international stage. It has the responsibility to contribute to the solutions."

Verhagen's visit coincides with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the Netherlands, and takes place shortly after China appointed Yang as its new foreign minister.

Verhagen said he was most impressed by Yang's knowledge, "not only about European affairs, but also about the situation in the Netherlands".

"I have great confidence in a constructive cooperation with him."

Source: China Daily