Beijing, China – Chinese President Xi Jinping recently met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Beijing. The meeting was significant due to the Netherlands’ role as a trading partner with China and Rutte’s potential appointment as NATO Secretary General.
Rutte’s visit was particularly important to Beijing due to China’s dependency on a Dutch company, ASML, in the global technological race. ASML is the only producer of lithography systems used in semiconductor chip production, making it a valuable technology group in Europe. As China and the US engage in an economic war over semiconductor industry dominance, the Netherlands’ alliance with the US led to restrictions on ASML’s export to China.
During their meeting, Xi Jinping and Li Qiang discussed repair services for ASML machines already in China. Despite facing challenges in circumventing the embargo, China wants to ensure continued technological development. Xi criticized Rutte’s decision to join the embargo, emphasizing China’s right to progress technologically and hinting at the country’s determination to advance despite limitations.
As tensions escalate between global powers over technological supremacy, Rutte’s visit to Beijing holds strategic importance for both China and the Netherlands. The outcome of discussions between the leaders could impact the trajectory of global semiconductor industry dynamics and geopolitical relations.
In conclusion, President Xi Jinping holds significant power in Chinese leadership and delegates meetings with smaller delegations to his number two Prime Minister Li Qiang. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is considered an important guest by Chinese leadership due to his potential appointment as NATO Secretary General post his current term and his country’s dependency on a Dutch company in the global technological race.
During their meeting, Xi Jinping and Li Qiang discussed repair services for ASML machines already in China while criticizing Rutte’s decision to join an economic war over semiconductor industry dominance. The outcome of this meeting could impact global semiconductor industry dynamics and geopolitical relations as tensions escalate between global powers over technological supremacy.
