Safeguarding economy a priority, Dutch foreign minister says in China

[1/2] Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra attends a press conference after talks with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang in Beijing, China, May 23, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/Pool BEIJING, May 23 (Reuters) – Safeguarding the Dutch economy and cyberspace is a key priority for the Netherlands, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said in China on Tuesday as Western governments adopt an increasingly defensive stance towards Beijing. Hoekstra was the first Dutch minister to visit China since the world’s second-largest economy reopened its borders after three years of COVID-19 travel curbs. Western governments have accused China of engaging in “economic…