THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS – MARCH 23: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte meets with President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping in Catshuis March 23, 2014 in The Hague, Netherlands. (Photo by Valerie Kuipers-Paul/Getty Images
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China's technological progress cannot be stopped, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte when they met in Beijing on Wednesday for talks on areas such as the vital semiconductor industry.
“The Chinese people also have legitimate development rights, and no force can stop the pace of scientific and technological progress in China,” Xi said, according to what was reported by the Xinhua News Agency. Xinhua News Agency.
China “will continue to pursue a win-win approach,” Xi said.
Relations between China and the Netherlands have been tense since the Netherlands and the United States banned exports of advanced chip technology to China over concerns that it could be used for military purposes.
Semiconductor chips are important components that can be found in everything from smartphones to cars.
Dutch tech giant ASML has been banned from exporting extreme UV lithography machines to China – the only company currently capable of making such machines. So far, we have not shipped a single UV machine to China yet.
These UV lithography machines are essential for chip manufacturing and are used by companies like Taiwan's TSMC to make the smallest and most advanced chips.
In January, The Netherlands banned ASML From exporting some of its deep ultraviolet lithography systems to China, which are used to make slightly less advanced chips.
Beijing criticized the Dutch government's moveHe urged the Netherlands to “adhere to an objective, fair position and market principles” and “protect the common interests” of the two countries and their companies.
“Creating scientific and technological barriers and cutting industrial and supply chains will only lead to division and confrontation,” Xi was quoted as saying by China's official Xinhua News Agency on Wednesday.
He said that cooperation is the only way, and added that “disengagement and breaking the chain” is not an option.
Xi said China is ready to continue dialogue with the Netherlands, urging the Dutch side to “provide a fair and transparent business environment for Chinese enterprises.”
According to ReutersRutte said on Wednesday that the Netherlands has tried to ensure that export restrictions, when they relate to the semiconductor industry and companies like ASML, never target a single country. “We always try to make sure the impact is limited,” he was quoted as saying.
Chinese state media reported that Rutte responded by saying that separation was not a policy option for the Dutch government either, “because any action that undermines China's development interests will only be counterproductive.”
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