BEIJING, March 28 (Reuters) - China hopes the

Netherlands would support companies in fulfilling their

contractual obligations and ensure "normal" trade of lithography

machines, said Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao.

In a meeting with Dutch Trade Minister Geoffrey van Leeuwen

on Wednesday, Wang added that China regarded the Netherlands as

a "trustworthy" economic and trade partner.

Both men held in-depth talks on issues including the export

of lithography machines to China and cooperation in the

semiconductor industry, according to a statement from the

Chinese commerce ministry on Thursday.

Earlier this year, the Dutch government began denying

licences for Dutch firm ASML to export advanced "DUV"

tool lines to China, joining a U.S. effort to curb chip exports

to the world's second-biggest economy.

The Dutch trade minister was part of Prime Minister Mark

Rutte's delegation visiting Beijing earlier this week.