Staff members work at a semiconductor wafer workshop of a company in the Western Science City in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug 24, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

China called on the Netherlands to ensure normal trade-in lithography machines and strengthen cooperation in the semiconductor industry, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday.

The comments were made during a meeting between Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Geoffrey van Leeuwen, the visiting Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, in Beijing on Wednesday.

Dutch export controls do not target any country, and the decisions are made based on an independent assessment and in a safe and controllable manner to minimize the impact on the global semiconductor industrial and supply chains, Van Leeuwen said

China appreciates the Netherlands' commitment to free trade and regards the country as a reliable economic and trade partner, Wang said, expressing hope for the Netherlands to uphold the spirit of contract, support the fulfillment of contractual obligations by Dutch companies and ensure normal trade in lithography machines.

It's important to prevent the overstretching of security, jointly maintain the stability of the global semiconductor industrial and supply chains, and promote the sustained and sound development of bilateral economic and trade relations, Wang said.

Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the open and pragmatic partnership for Comprehensive Cooperation between China and the Netherlands, Wang said that China-Netherlands economic and trade relations have developed steadily.

Dutch export controls do not target any country, and the decisions are made based on an independent assessment and in a safe and controllable manner to minimize the impact on the global semiconductor industrial and supply chains, Van Leeuwen said.

The Netherlands is built on trade, advocates for free trade, and attaches great importance to economic and trade cooperation with China. China is one of the most important trading partners of the Netherlands, and the Netherlands is willing to continue to be a reliable partner of China, he added.

Van Leeuwen also expressed hope that the two countries will expand cooperation in green transformation and elderly care services.