Koen Sizoo: Holland, Europe’s Trade and Logistics Hub, Sees Promising Future for China Railway Express (Chongqing)

□ Article / Journalist Xiong Yi Tr. by Chen Yupeng

Koen Sizoo: Holland, Europe’s Trade and Logistics Hub, Sees Promising Future for China Railway Express (Chongqing)

□ Article / Journalist Xiong Yi Tr. by Chen Yupeng

“Chongqing represents the many inland Chinese cities that are developing at a rapid speed, and it is a city with both history and fame. I personally take great interest in the history of the Fishing Castle and the time when Chongqing was the wartime capital”, Koen Sizoo, Dutch Consul-General in Chongqing, explained to our journalist why he loves Chongqing. Ever since he took of fi ce a year ago, Sizoo has been devoted to promoting cooperation and communication between Chongqing and Holland in logistics, trade, agriculture,culture, etc.

Ever Deepening Holland-Chongqing Friendship

This September marks the first anniversary of Sizoo assuming the office of Dutch Consulate-General in Chongqing. “Sometime around the year of 2000, I worked in Shanghai, which is a coastal city that is totally different from Chongqing”, said Sizoo, “China’s economy is developing at an amazing speed, which has led to the rising of inland cities, especially Chongqing.”

Besides economic development, Sizoo is also fascinated by Chongqing’s history. “I got to know the history of Chongqing when I was learning the history of China. I’m particularly interested in the Battle of the Fishing Castle which occurred in the Southern Song Dynasty, and the time when Chongqing served as the wartime time capital, which is very influential.” Sizoo mentioned in particular that the documentary On the track of Robert van Gulik, which is due this year, will include many details of the time when the renowned Dutch diplomat, sinologist, and writer stayed in Chongqing.

Sizoo said: “During his time in Chongqing, Mr. Van Gulik had not only experienced local lifestyle, but also made considerable achievements in Sinology, which makes this documentary even more valuable.” Sizoo believes that it was at that time that the connections between Holland and Chongqing was established and has been deepening ever since.

As the only provincial municipality in western China,Chongqing’s population and size is just twice as big as Holland’s. Sizoo thinks that though Chongqing is mountainous while Holland is flat, they have something in common, that is, a sprawling network of rivers. The Changjiang River and the Jialing River converge at Chongqing, while quite a few European rivers enter the sea via Holland.

“A big and mountainous city like Chongqing is very appealing to Dutch people. So I have made it my personal mission to make Chongqing more famous in Holland. I hope that more and more Dutch people will get to know Chongqing, including its long history,unique landscape, delicious food and many other things”, Sizoo said gladly.

China-Europe Railway Express (Chongqing): Synergy of Holland and Chongqing

When meeting with Willem-Alexander, King of the Netherlands, in 2015, President Xi Jinping pointed out that an all-round partnership has already been established between China and Holland, which creates unique advantages for the two countries to carry out cooperation through the “Belt and Road Initiative”. King Willem-Alexander said that Holland is more than willing to participate in signi fi cant collaborations launched by China such as the “Belt and Road Initiative” and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and integrate the B&R’s projects and European investments.

Historically, Holland was a major hub of the ancient Silk Road and Maritime Silk Route. Sizoo believes that the B&R will signi fi cantly bene fi t Chongqing-Holland cooperation and communications.

Full-fledged logistics and international trade are two major pillars of Holland. Four major Rivers in Europe enter the sea through Holland. Rotterdam, the biggest seaport in Europe,Schiphol, the fourth largest airport in Europe, and a complete network of motorways and railways provide platforms for logistics and international trade for Holland. Likewise, Chongqing boasts a highly developed inland water transportation system,increasingly complete airports, and China-Europe Railway Express (Chongqing), a major contributor to international railway transportation.

The “B&R” has created more trade channels for China and the world, and has diversified the means of transportation. It has also combined the advantages of Chongqing and Holland by exchanging the electronic goods of Chongqing and the agricultural products of Holland through railway, for which Holland’s cold chain technology could be used. More profound bilateral cooperation is expected in the future.

Sizoo believes that the standard of logistics (cold-chain) is raised as China’s consumption of fresh, safe and high-quality food grows.

As an important part of China’s “B&R” Initiative, China-Europe Railway Express (Chongqing) has already become the backbone of the development of logistics (cold-chain).

A Promising Future for Holland-Chongqing Cooperation in These Fields: Logistics and Agriculture, etc

In November 2016, in light of B&R’s spirit, Dutch Consulate-General in Chongqing, Rabobank, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Chongqing Sub-council, Chongqing Logistics Research Institute, and Chongqing International Freight Forwarders Association jointed held the Belt and Road Sino-Dutch Cold Chain Logistics Seminar in Chongqing.

“Holland is an agriculture-oriented country and a major food exporter, so cold chain is needed to guarantee the quality of the products. Holland’s cold chain logistics is complete and highly developed”, said Sizoo. The Seminar is aimed at exploring more opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, food and logistics between Holland and China, especially the rapidly developing West China.

Supported by platforms such as China-Europe Railway Express(Chongqing) Yangtze River Economic Zones, and central and western China meat-import ports, the seminar explored opportunities to import Holland’s meat and dairy products, fruit and vegetables, flowers and other resources through multimodal transportation, develop cold chain logistics, promote global food trade, and explored solutions to issues hindering the development of cold chain logistics.

Sizoo also mentioned that the Sponge City Forum was held in Chongqing earlier this year, during which Dutch companies demonstrated to Chongqing’s research institutes and companies technologies concerning water resource, including rainwater utilization, water purification, etc. “Besides, in order to celebrate this year’s Dutch Day and its theme ‘sports and healthy life’, we are planning to bring to Chongqing a delegation of Holland’s sports industry and with it managerial experiences in soccer and sports facilities to promote bilateral cooperation in such fi eld.

Regarding agriculture, the Dutch Consulate-General in Chongqing has been seeking opportunities to cooperate with the fl ower farming industry in Wulong, the pig farming industry in Rongchang, and the citrus industry in Wanzhou. “So far, we have carried out the most cooperation in the fl ower industry, especially in tulip farming.” Sizoo has invited citizens to visit the Fairy Hill in Wulong, where they can see genuine Dutch tulips.

(All rights reserved to the Dutch Consulate-General in Chongqing.Authorized use only)