Diner at the Four Seasons Hotel
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Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for the honour of your presence here.
I would like extend a special welcome to the Shanghai Construction Transport Committee and to the representatives from the Chinese business community.
Yesterday I spoke with your Minister of Transport, Mr Li Shenglin, our host in China.
We took the opportunity to extend the Memorandum of Understanding between our Ministries on road transport, inland shipping, port and airport development and civil aviation for five years.
This is an excellent basis for steady cooperation and the sharing of knowledge and best practices.
This is my first visit to China.
I have learned that nowhere is your country so charged with history, and yet at the same time so modern and international, as here in Shanghai.
And I can confirm that this bustling megalopolis reflects both the diverse history and the flourishing economy of China.
This city is thus a fitting venue for the 2010 World Expo.
Early this year, my country broke ground with great enthusiasm for the building of the Dutch pavilion.
In more ways than one, the Netherlands feels an involvement with Shanghai, the world’s largest port and twin city of Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe.
The port of Amsterdam too offers excellent opportunities for dealing with the expanding flow of goods from Shanghai to Europe.
This is the reason that Amsterdam opened an office here a few years ago.
At the same time, the Netherlands is also an attractive base for Chinese companies.
It has Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, the sea ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam and high quality, reliable links with the European hinterland.
The Netherlands: gateway to Europe!
Already eight percent of the Dutch import is Chinese.
An increasing number of Chinese companies have an office in the Netherlands.
Multinationals like China Shipping, Cosco and Hutchinson Whampoa.
And more recently companies like Huawei, Mindray and Haier have found their way to my country.
Last year, for several weeks, we were able to thoroughly enjoy a perfectly organised Olympic Games in Beijing.
This gave extra impulse to Dutch interest in Chinese language and culture.
The number of Dutch students enrolling in the first year of Chinese Studies at Dutch universities is growing every year.
The same applies to the number of Chinese students who are studying at Dutch universities (for one or more years). Young people who in the future will form an important bridge between our two countries.
Knowledge of one another’s country and language makes it easier to do business. The representatives from Dutch and Chinese companies here will agree with me on that point.
During the Round Table talks on ports and the hinterland this afternoon, we exchanged thoughts on the best way to further develop our transport flows.
Within the framework of my visit, a meeting took place this afternoon about cooperation between Chinese and Dutch companies and technological institutions regarding the implementation of electric vehicles.
Tomorrow, Round Table talks will be held regarding ITS and Traffic Management, in which we will be focusing on the future traffic situation and solutions.
In short, in the field of Transport, China and the Netherlands suit one another well, we can learn from each other and we can do business together.
I emphasised this in one of my keynote speeches.
After three centuries of close trading contact it is no surprise that China and the Netherlands are natural partners.
Our cooperation is based on harmony and mutual understanding.
I am convinced that this will become even more profound in the years ahead.
I would therefore like to propose a toast to our friendship. Ganbei! [Cheers!]