On 8th April, Vice President Song Jingwu met with Mr. Niek Meijer, Presient of the Netherlands China Friendship Association (VNC) and his delegation at the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).

Vice President Song expressed his warm welcome to President Meijer. He made a brief introduction of CPAFFC’s history, objectives, recent work and its contribution to enhancing exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese and foreign local governments. He congratulated Mr Meijer on becoming the new President of the VNC, and hoped that under the new leadership VNC makes greater contribution to the friendly cooperation between China and the Netherlands and the two peoples. Song spoke highly of the Sino-European Agricultural Seminar initiated jointly by CPAFFC and VNC. He invited the VNC to send delegation of Dutch agricultural experts and related institutes to participate this year’s Seminar so as to create more opportunities for agricultural exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

President Meijer introduced the VNC’s main work in the future, and shared his views on local government cooperation. He said that the VNC would always support the Sino-European Agricultural Seminar, and is willing to join hands with the CPAFFC in promoting Netherlands-China friendship and exchanges.

Ms. Zhang Ruoning, Deputy Director General of the Department of European and Asian Affairs was present at the meeting.