STORY: Netherlands seeks to strengthen agricultural ties with China: representatives
SHOOTING TIME: Oct. 23, 2024
DATELINE: Oct. 25, 2024
LENGTH: 00:03:02
LOCATION: WASSENAAR, the Netherlands
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the seminar
2. SOUNDBITE (English): FLORISKE DEUTMAN, Board member of the Tomato World Foundation

STORYLINE:

The Netherlands is looking to deepen its agricultural partnership with China, building on a long history of collaboration in the sector, according to Dutch representatives at a Sino-Dutch seminar on agricultural cooperation held in Wassenaar, the Netherlands on Wednesday.

Officials, entrepreneurs and researchers from China's Shanghai and the Netherlands' South Holland province met here on Wednesday to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for cooperation in agricultural technology innovation and sustainable development.

In a video message, Erik Smidt, agricultural counselor at the Dutch Embassy in China, emphasized the enduring ties between the two nations.

"China and the Netherlands share a rich history of cooperation in agriculture, with collaboration spanning decades," said Smidt. "We have worked together on various projects ranging from high-tech agriculture to food safety and sustainability."

Smidt highlighted several successful joint ventures involving Dutch and Chinese companies, universities, and research institutions in fields such as horticulture and dairy.

These partnerships, he noted, showcase "best practices in agricultural production that benefit both our countries."

According to Smidt, these collaborations have also promoted the exchange of expertise, driving advancements in precision agriculture, resource management, and sustainability.

Floriske Deutman, board member of the Tomato World Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Dutch agricultural products, emphasized the synergy between Dutch technology and the Chinese market.

SOUNDBITE (English): FLORISKE DEUTMAN, Board member of the Tomato World Foundation
"The greatest potential for the collaboration between the Dutch and the Chinese, and more specifically the Shanghai horticulture sector lies in the synergy between the high-tech approach in the Dutch horticulture sector and the vast markets in Shanghai and in China, for agriculture and horticulture. And to combine our high-tech products and our high-tech innovations with the Chinese sides, I think that will give the best results.
I believe that the Dutch expertise can play a vital role in the collaboration between Dutch and Chinese companies in horticulture by resource-efficient products and circular agriculture as well as efficient water management. I think those three topics are most promising for an intensive collaboration between the Dutch and the Chinese sides."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Wassenaar, the Netherlands.
(XHTV)