2015年CRI Dutch King's China Visit Signifies Closer China-EU Ties: Expert

 

As part of his 5-day stay in China, Netherlands King Willem-Alexander and his wife will make stops in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou.

He is also due to travel to Shaanxi to tour through the Loess Plateau while making a stop in the city of Yan'an, which the Communist Party of China maintained its wartime headquarters.

The King's time in Beijing with Xi Jinping is the Chinese President's 2nd brush with the European monarchy¹ this month, having just returned from the UK where he and his wife were the guests of Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace.

Professor Feng Zhongping, European Studies expert with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, says the meetings with Europe’s royalty² have significant value from a public relations perspective.

"Even though these monarchs³ don't have much political power in their country, their role still conveys an important symbolic⁴ meaning. Not only have the British and Dutch royal families reached out to the Chinese government, other monarchs from Sweden and Belgium have also either visited China or invited Chinese leaders to their countries. I think this is a sign European countries are racing⁵ to forge closer ties with China."

Apart from the Dutch King's time in China, German chancellor⁶ Angela Merkel is due to make a stop in China this coming week.

French President Fran?ois Hollande is due to make a trip to China in early November.

Professor Feng Zhongping says these trips are a good opportunity for the Chinese side to make Europe more comfortable with China.

"The high-level reciprocal visits are an opportunity to build more political trust between state leaders. Only by promoting political trust, economic and trade cooperation, as well as people-people exchanges, can we guarantee a closer China-EU relationship. Right now, China-EU cooperation is on a fast track. It's the result of strong efforts from both sides."

The Dutch King is here in China as part of a broader delegation⁷ from the Netherlands, which includes government officials and business leaders.

A number of Dutch companies, including KLM, Shell and the Port of Rotterdam have representatives on the trip.

Its expected several business deals in areas such as agriculture, finance, sports and tourism will be finalized⁸ as part of Willem-Alexander's time in China.

His time in Shaanxi is being highlighted as one area of significant interest, as its expected the Chinese side will be pressing for more cooperation from the Dutch delegation when it comes to the environment.

Shaanxi is on the edge of the Gobi Desert, and is an area the government has been focused on in its attempt to stop soil erosion and help clean up the air.

It's also an area where Xi Jinping spent 7-years as a "zhiqing," or educated youth, in the 1960's and 70's.

1 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

2 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。

3 monarchs   

君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Monarchs ruled England for centuries. 世袭君主统治英格兰有许多世纪。
• Serving six monarchs of his native Great Britain, he has served all men's freedom and dignity. 他在大不列颠本国为六位君王服务，也为全人类的自由和尊严服务。 来自演讲部分

4 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

5 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

6 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

7 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

8 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》