(11 December 2024, The Hague)
Excellencies, dear guests, friends, colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
A very good evening to you all.
I am very happy to participate in this Huawei 20th Anniversary Celebration.
It is also my great pleasure to see so many Dutch friends here.
Just now I watched the video and listened to the presentation with you.
Huawei has made big contribution in terms of paying taxes, recruiting people, taking social responsibility, providing social service through digital products, and contributing to green transition.
What is Huawei?
It is an IT company, privately owned, headquartered in Shenzhen, doing business in China and around the world.
What makes Huawei so renowned?
Many. One thing, among others, is that it has been in the crosshair of the superpower sanctions.
Hardly can I think about any other companies sanctioned with such severity and for such a long time.
I feel sorry for Huawei, more proud of Huawei.
The fact is that, in spite of the clamorous speculations, like the alleged spying, there has been NO evidence whatsoever, to substantiate the claims.
I think that explains why so many Dutch colleagues join this event.
The case of Huawei reminds me of the Disney cartoon Tom and Jerry.
Tom, the cat, very big, superpower; Jerry, a private Chinese company.
But I am not amused.
This is life and death for Huawei, and has very negative impacts on national industry and global supply chain.
History is the judge. So are you.
This could also be a very good case study in the MBA textbook.
Dear guests,
Huawei’s rapid growth has been closely related to the reform and opening up in China, globalization around the world. This is the big picture.
Huawei has benefited from and contributed to the robust economic relations between China and the Netherlands.
Our bilateral trade volume has surpassed $100 billion for three consecutive years. The Netherlands is China’s 2nd largest trading partner after Germany within the EU. China is the Netherlands’ major trading partner outside the EU.
Among all the EU countries, the Netherlands is the largest destination of Chinese investment, and the second largest source of investment to China.
This is a win-win relationship, bringing tangible benefits to our two peoples.
Allow me to take this opportunity to thank the Dutch business community for the achievements.
There are, of course, challenges and disputes.
On our side, we will continue to reform deeper and open up wider.
We will further improve the ease-of-doing business and level-playing field, respect intellectual property rights.
We hope the Netherlands could uphold its pro-trade, pro-investment policy, and provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies.
What’s more, geopolitics should not stand in the way of our economic cooperation.
Security concerns are legitimate, provided not abused for geopolitical gains.
We are firmly against decoupling, which will damage our economic relations, disrupt global supply chain, harm international cooperation.
China attaches great importance to our relations with the Netherlands , and has been engaging in in-depth exchanges with the Netherlands.
Last March, Mr Mark Rutte visited China in his capacity of caring-taking Prime Minister.
On 27 November, just two weeks ago, our heads of government, Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Dick Schoof, had a good phone conversation.
We will continue to facilitate the high-level exchanges.
I can tell you that, in fielding questions from the capital, I am very clear and certain that the current Dutch government is stable, will stay on, and do a great job.
Dear friends,
We are promoting visits at all levels, business, people-to-people connectivity.
In this regard, let me share a good news with you.
You may recall that China introduced the visa free policy a year ago, and the Netherlands was one of a few countries accorded with this unilateral arrangement, thanks to our good economic relations.
Most recently, this policy has been optimized and updated.
Starting from 30 November this year, that was two weeks ago, the scope of travel has been expanded, now covering business, official business, family business, tourism, etc. And the duration of stay doubled, from 15 days to 30 days.
I recall when the visa free was first announced last year, many Dutch friends, while welcoming this policy, said that 15-day stay was short, and asked for extension, as China is big, and the Dutch do love long holidays and can enjoy an annual leave for as long as 30 days.
This is a case in point of China’s opening up.
It is much easier now for you to visit Huawei in China.
Christmas came early.
Yet, winter is coming. Maybe in 40 days time?
Tariff war, trade war, technology war, are looming large.
If the storm is coming, we will weather it.
We will do our best to prevent a new cold war.
Fingers crossed.
I am hopeful. And I have reasons to be optimistic.
If history is a guide, China has never harmed the interest of Europe, the interest of the Netherlands. There is NO fundamental conflict of interest between us.
China and the Netherlands, China and the EU, we have more common grounds than differences.
We are for peaceful development, for green development.
We are for open economy, for free and fair trade, for globalization, like Dutch.
Our world is confronted with unprecedented challenges, climate, covid, artificial intelligence, etc. which require unprecedented international cooperation.
China will take its responsibility.
For instance, China is on course to achieve its climate goals of carbon peaking before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060.
China is not a rival, nor a challenge, let alone a threat.
We are partners.
I recall when I first met Ambassador Ed Kronenberg, he said to me: China is part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Many thanks for the line, which I have remembered and repeated many times in my remarks.
Ed, if I receive any royalties of this intellectual property, I will hand over to you.
I am so heartened to see so many Dutch friends here.
This is another reason I am upbeat about our relations, and about Huawei’s future.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This event is being held at the Louwman Museum, an attraction for many Chinese tourists. There is very few Chinese brand car here.
I believe in 20 years time, there will be many Chinese EV cars, powered by Huawei, exhibited here, to record our common efforts in technology development and in combating the climate change.
Looking back, Huawei has come a long way.
Looking ahead, please keep up the good work, and do even better.
I believe, Huawei, with your clean record, critical contribution to the society and to the green transition, you will win more hearts and minds of the people.
More and more people in the west will accept you and welcome you.
Huawei is emerging stronger.
I want to be your cheer leader.
Thank you for your attention.