Prime Minister to visit China for Asia conference

Prime Minister Mark Rutte will visit China in March this year with Secretary of Infrastructure and Environment Wilma Mansveld and a representative of the Dutch business sector, the government stated in a release.. The delegation will attend the Boao Forum for Asia held in Boao, Hainan Province. The annual forum runs this year from March 26 to March 29, with politicians and representatives from business, science and media in attendance. "The trip will focus on further strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the Netherlands and China," the government stated. "There are great opportunities for Dutch businesses in China. At present more than 1,000 Dutch companies operating in the country." The Netherlands is China's second-largest trading partner of China within the European Union. The two nations traded roughly €39.5 billion in goods and services in 2013, a number expected to rise when final totals are tallied for 2014. Amsterdam Mayor Eberhard van der Laan visited China in October last year to sign a deal for the Amsterdam smart city project. The Minister of Economic Affairs, Henk Kamp visited China at the end of last month in an attempt to increase opportunities for Dutch entrepreneurs and scientists in Chinese markets.