One of our main activities is organising and hosting Luncheon Briefings on pertinent topics of EU-Asia relations. Beginning with an informal lunch, the Briefings usually last for 1.5 hours, including questions.

Attendees include EIAS members and other interested parties.

Experts wishing to discuss a possible topic for a Lucheon Briefing are invited to contact EIAS

China and the Dutch Economy
Tuesday, 19 December, 2006 from 13h00 – 14h30
Venue: European Institute for Asian Studies

Speakers: Dr. Wim Suyker, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis
Dr. Henri de Groot, Department of Spatial Economics of Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam
Chair: Dr. Willem van der Geest, Director, European Institute for Asian Studies

Listen to an interview with the speakers (mp3)

The European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) is honoured to welcome Dr. Wim Suyker of the CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis and Dr. Henri de Groot of the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam to its premises for a discussion of their recent CPB report entitled “China and the Dutch Economy: Stylised Facts and Prospects”.

According to the report, China’s spectacular economic performance over the past few decades has had a positive net impact on the Dutch economy. Chinese imports have lowered Dutch inflation. Furthermore, strongly increasing Chinese exports to Europe have strengthened the role of the Netherlands as a key European distribution centre without detrimental impacts on the pace of restructuring in the Netherlands or on unemployment figures. It would seem that Chinese export products are more complements than substitutes for Dutch export products and continued increasing trade with China is expected to enhance Dutch welfare in the upcoming years. Can similar effects be observed in other European countries?

CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis is an independent research institute, founded in 1945, specialising in independent economic analyses that are both scientifically sound and up-to-date, and relevant for policymaking in the Netherlands. Its first director was Jan Tinbergen who won the Nobel Prize for economics in 1969. The full text of the CPB report from September 2006 can be Read here (pdf)

Listen to an interview with the speakers (mp3)