Taipei, Oct. 13 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian expressed the hope Monday that the Netherlands will attach importance to its relations with Taiwan and not tilt too much toward mainland China.
The president made the remarks when he met with Henk De Haan, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Dutch parliament.
Chen noted that Taiwan's trade exchanges and business cooperation with the Netherlands are very close and added that the country is a very important trading partner for Taiwan, with bilateral trade amounting to US$5.2 billion last year, of which Taiwan enjoyed a trade surplus of US$1.5 billion.
He noted that the Netherlands is Taiwan's second-largest trading partner in Europe and that Taiwan is the Netherlands' fifth-largest importer, as well as the second-largest exporter.
Taiwan's investment in the Netherlands amounts to US$250 million, or the nation's second-largest in Europe. In comparison, the Netherlands has invested US$2.34 billion in Taiwan, the largest amount of any European country's investment in Taiwan.
The president said that there is still room for expansion in terms of bilateral business exchanges and trade cooperation, and added that "we hope very much that Dutch officials, especially trade and economic ministers, can visit Taiwan."
Chen noted that the Dutch foreign minister will assume the post of NATO secretary-general and that the Dutch government will also serve as the rotational chairman of the European Union in the second half of next year.
With the growing influence of the Netherlands, the president expressed the hope that the country will seriously consider its policies toward Taiwan and the mainland.