The Netherlands surpassed the United Kingdom last year to become the European Union's (EU) second-largest trading partner with China, according to a senior Dutch official.

And the Netherlands, instead of blindly blaming China for its trade deficit - as the United States does - is seeking more business opportunities and cooperation in the world's fastest-growing market to rectify its trade imbalance.

"The two-way trade volume is now US$15 billion. The Netherlands is the second largest trade partner of China in the European Union. This is also true with regard to foreign investment in China," said Sybilla Dekker, the acting minister of economic affairs.

Dekker, also minister of spatial planning, housing and the environment, is heading a Dutch trade mission during a six-day visit to Beijing, Jinan and Guangzhou.

The mission comprises of 33 companies from different sectors, mostly covering small-and medium-sized enterprises.

According to local customs, China's exports to the Netherlands reached US$13.5 billion last year, up some 40 per cent over 2002. Its imports to the Netherlands witnessed a 23 per cent increase to stand at US$1.94 billion last year.

"Increasing the Netherlands' exports to China is the main purpose of this trade mission, in particular to introduce new companies to the Chinese market," Dekker said.

But "we don't think it (the Netherlands' huge trade deficit with China) is a problem," the minister stressed, "We think it is a challenge. We can handle it by introducing more companies to China and bring their products to Chinese markets."

The strong euro, China's inability to soak up the Netherlands' high technologies combined to the trade imbalance between, according to Arie Kraaijeveld, president of FME-CWM.

Meanwhile, Dekker said she was confident of China's further opening under the World Trade Organization banner. She and China's Vice-Minister of Commerce Zhang Zhigang discussed issues on China's WTO implementation on Monday. Zhang said the Chinese Government will make efforts to fulfill its commitments.

Secured by the market opening in China, Dutch companies are actively exploring the "large potential" to increase the Netherlands' exports to the world's most populous country.

Dekker said the mission has achieved fruitful results in Beijing, after a batch of agreements were signed, to the benefit of both sides.

Dekker and Wang Guangtao, the Chinese construction minister, signed a memorandum of understanding focusing on the exchange of knowledge and experience in the area of policy and technology on Sunday.

(China Daily February 18, 2004)