Sun, June 17, 2012
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COPENHAGEN, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit has cemented friendship and expanded cooperation with Denmark, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said Saturday.
In an interview with Chinese media, Yang said that Hu's visit has mapped out the future path for and expressed confidence in bilateral ties, and added fresh impetus to the development of China's relations with Denmark and Europe at large.
President Hu concluded his three-day state visit to Denmark on Saturday and left here for Los Cabos, Mexico to attend a G20 summit.
As a new milestone in the history of bilateral ties, Hu's visit has been the first by a Chinese head of state since China and Denmark established diplomatic ties 62 years ago, said Yang.
During his stay in Denmark, Hu conducted in-depth exchanges of views with Danish leaders on issues such as mutually beneficial cooperation and China-Denmark and China-Europe Union (EU) comprehensive strategic partnerships. Both sides have reached important consensus.
Hu noted that China stands ready to promote its ties with Denmark from a strategic and long-term perspective, keep high-level contacts, deepen mutual understanding and trust, strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional issues and steadily advance the China-Denmark comprehensive strategic partnership, in a bid to ensure the stable, long-term development of their relations.
Lauding China's achievements in its development, the Danish leaders were of the opinion that China has played an important role in safeguarding world peace and stability and in speeding up global economic recovery.
China's development offers great opportunities for Denmark, they said. Denmark hopes to boost exchanges and cooperation with China and Hu's visit will surely lift Denmark-China relations to a higher level.
Hu's visit brings closer economic and trade ties between the two countries as a raft of deals were signed between Chinese and Danish enterprises, Yang said.
China and Denmark are highly complementary in economy and the two sides have carried out fruitful cooperation. China has become Denmark's largest trading partner in Asia for many years.
Denmark commands world leading technologies in such areas as energy conservation and environmental protection, new energy, bio-pharmacy and innovation, while China is now in an acceleration period for industrialization, urbanization and information industry, Yang said. The two nations have an enormous potential for future cooperation.
And to enhance China-Denmark cooperation helps promote their economic development and boost employment, he said. The two sides signed a host of cooperative documents in a broad range of areas, such as economy and trade, investment and energy.
During his stay in Copenhagen, Hu also inspected sustainable development and green living initiatives and was briefed on energy conservation, environmental protection, and the development of renewable and new energy in the Nordic country.
The Chinese president pointed out that while the two sides are deepening cooperation in agriculture and logistics, they also need to expand cooperation in green economy, energy conservation and environmental protection, technological innovation and bio-pharmacy.
President Hu also discussed measures to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges with the Danish leadership and visited the country's national museum, said Yang.
The Chinese head of state proposed during the visit that the two sides jointly set up a scientific research and education center, promote language education, and expand students and scholars exchanges.
The Danish side said the Danish people respect China for its centuries-old history and culture, and hope the two peoples could improve their mutual understanding and friendship.
Yang also said the two countries signed a number of documents to establish cultural centers, promote cultural heritage protection and enhance educational cooperation.
During his stay in Denmark, President Hu also discussed with the Danish leaders issues concerning cooperation between China and the EU as Denmark is currently holding the rotating EU presidency.
Hu said China has always seen Europe as one of its strategic focuses, and promoting the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership is in line with the fundamental interests of both sides.
On the eurozone debt crisis, China hopes the European economy could maintain stability, and believes that the continent is wise and capable enough to overcome the crisis and restore recovery and growth, said Hu.
He added that China will work with the rest of the international community to support Europe's efforts to solve the debt crisis and promote economic stability.
