People enjoy dahlias at the garden of Keukenhof Castle in Lisse, the Netherlands, Sept. 9, 2023. (Photo by Sylvia Lederer/Xinhua)
Sino-Dutch businesses signed several agricultural cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding.
THE HAGUE, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The provinces of South Holland, the Netherlands, and Shandong, China, have held here a matchmaking event for enterprises from both sides to bolster agricultural ties and foster mutual growth.
Some 200 representatives, including Meindert Stolk, vice governor of South Holland, Chen Ping, vice governor of Shandong, and entrepreneurs from both countries, attended the event held on Friday.
In his address, Stolk highlighted that Shandong is renowned in China for its agriculture, particularly in the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, aquaculture and livestock, while the Netherlands is the world's second-largest exporter of agricultural products.
South Holland has significant advantages in modern greenhouse technology and horticulture industry clusters, and there is ample room for further deepening agricultural cooperation between the two regions, he said.
For his part, Chen noted that last year marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the Netherlands.
This aerial photo taken on Aug. 10, 2023 shows a view of the Taierzhuang ancient town along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in Taierzhuang District of Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)
Over the past five decades, cooperation in agriculture between Shandong and the Netherlands has continually deepened, with successful mechanisms for collaboration established in areas such as agricultural machinery, agricultural product trade and investment, he said.
Chen expressed hope that the matchmaking event would serve as an opportunity for both sides to strengthen cooperation in various domains, including infrastructure, technological innovation, trade and investment.
During the subsequent ceremony, Sino-Dutch businesses signed several agricultural cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding.
An unmanned farm machine performs baling operations in a demonstration field of Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, June 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo)
Tjerk Opmeer, director of the International Department at the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, emphasized the "longstanding friendly relations" between the Netherlands and Shandong.
"At this moment, we have around 80 Dutch companies investing in Shandong and more than 40 Shandong companies establishing their business in the Netherlands," he said. "So cooperation among our companies cover a wide range of industries such as agriculture, water management, health care, new energy, maritime, logistics, advanced manufacturing, etc."
Opmeer stressed that China and the Netherlands are both major producers and exporters of agricultural products.
Bilateral collaboration in areas such as vegetable seed breeding, greenhouse technology, dairy products, agricultural robotics and refrigeration technology has a long history, he said. "It's clear that our economies are highly compatible and complementary."
A farmer takes care of grapes in a field in Pingyi County, Linyi City of east China's Shandong Province, May 6, 2023. (Photo by Wu Jiquan/Xinhua)
Gert Dral, the executive advisory board member of Dutch Greenhouse Delta, a foundation dedicated to promoting Dutch agricultural technology worldwide, said that his organization is committed to offering a full industry chain collaboration, ranging from seeds to greenhouse design and construction.
China is their most prioritized market globally, and they are eagerly looking forward to collaborating with Chinese partners, said Dral.
The long-standing relationship between the Netherlands and China is a very good base for cooperation, he told Xinhua. "I see a lot of opportunities, because there is a huge demand on Chinese side for better, safe, healthy food, increase of volumes, and other chances. We can provide technology, experience ... so, there are very good conditions for further cooperation."
During the event, representatives from Sino-Dutch businesses took the stage to introduce their companies, discuss development plans, and explore potential areas for mutual cooperation. ■
