THE HAGUE - The Chinese telecommunications company Huawei officially opened its largest European Huawei Enterprise Office and Exhibition centre in the Netherlands on Wednesday.

The 250 square-meter exhibition space shows the company's ICT innovations specifically developed for the European market.

According to Huawei, the opening of the centre, based in Amstelveen, marked an important milestone in its recent European and Benelux expansion and growth.

Dutch State Secretary of Finance, Mr Frans Weekers were present together with CEO of Huawei Benelux Simon Xin, Mayor of Amstelveen Mr. van Zanen, and the economic counselor of the Embassy of RP China, Mr. Li Fei, to officially open the exhibition centre.

"By opening this new exhibition centre I think Huawei has demonstrated its commitment to long-term development in the Netherlands. It also shows the favorable investment environment of the Netherlands," Li Fei said in a speech.

In his speech, CEO of Huawei Benelux, Simon Xin stressed that the company has expanded rapidly since its establishment in 1987. "Now we have more than 150,000 employees in more than 140 countries. In Europe alone we employ more than 7,000 staff members. In the Benelux we have over 650 employees, from which local staff is 73 per cent and we aim for more," he said.

According to the Foreign Investment Agency, the Netherlands is a strategic location to serve markets within Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

"Already 360 Chinese companies are now active in our country, boosting the economy with investments and jobs," State Secretary of finance Frans Weekers said.