BUENOS AIRES, May 20 -- China and the Netherlands are willing to strengthen cooperation in various fields under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (B&R), Chinese and Dutch foreign ministers said here Sunday.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok during the ministerial meeting of the Group of 20 held here.

Wang said the Netherlands is China's important partner in the European Union (EU) and the Sino-Dutch relationship constitutes an important part of Sino-EU relations.

China expects the Netherlands to continue providing a fair, friendly and open environment for trade and investment cooperation and to take advantage of the land, maritime and air connectivity between the two countries to enhance bilateral cooperation in multiple areas under the B&R framework, the minister said.

Bilateral exchanges and cooperations in various areas have maintained a strong momentum and the recent visits to China by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Mark Rutte have charted a new blueprint for bilateral ties, said Wang.

China is willing to work with the Netherlands to implement the consensuses reached by the two heads of state so as to maintain a healthy and stable development of bilateral ties, said Wang.

Blok said the Netherlands expects to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields with China in line with a series of agreements signed during the visits of the Dutch king and prime minister.

He said the B&R is beneficial to international trade and the Dutch side is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to jointly develop the initiative under the EU framework.

Noting the common challenges facing the international community, Blok said his country expects to enhance communication and coordination with China on important international and regional issues.

At the request of Blok, Wang introduced China's standpoint on the trade friction with the United States. He said it accords with the interests of both nations and peoples, and also the common expectations of the international community that China and the United States properly handle the issue through equal dialogue.

Wang said China will continue to firmly uphold multilateralism and the free trade system centered on the rules of the World Trade Organization.

Blok said the Netherlands always supports free trade and an open economy and therefore appreciates China's handling of relevant issues with wisdom.