What is the Netherlands’ role in the world? On 4 May 2016 H.E. Ron Keller, ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to China, discussed this question at the China-EU School of Law. He spoke to an audience of more than 100 master’s students. Prof. Liu Fei, Chinese Co-Dean of CESL, and Dr. Clemens Richter, European Executive Co-Dean also attended the event.

In his speech, ambassador Keller shared with the students how the Netherlands as a small country has achieved so much, how the Dutch are closely connected to the world and to China in particular, and how the Netherlands and China can work together to create a better future.

In spite of being a small country, the Netherlands has achieved much as a powerhouse of international business, agriculture, creative industry and innovation, ambassador Keller explained. It offers an open environment to local and foreign businesses that is conducive to international trade and investment. The Dutch are proud of the experience and expertise in agriculture, which leads to their position as the second largest exporter of agricultural products worldwide. In the meantime, the high calibre Dutch creative industry is gaining considerable international acclaim, which has in turn become an engine of innovation and fuelled Dutch prosperity.

As a founding member of the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), international orientation has always been of significance to the Netherlands, ambassador Keller stressed. This is echoed by its vision and strategies of internationalisation when it comes to education and scientific research. At the moment, the Netherlands is holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 January to 30 June 2016.

Ronald Keller was born in Bussum of the Netherlands in 1958. In 1983, he acquired a Master`s Degree on Economic Sciences of the University of Amsterdam. In 1984, he entered the Ministry of Finance. In 2000, he started working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After having served as ambassador of the Netherlands in Ukraine, Russia and Turkey, Ronald Keller came to Beijing in 2015.

Article by Lu Qing, CESL master’s student from the 2015 intake.

Photos by Lu Yunkai, from CUPL’s public department