Danish PM says upcoming visit to China to bring ties to new high

COPENHAGEN -- Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen said that his forthcoming visit to China will boost the close China-Denmark relations to a new high.

"This will be the first official visit by a Danish Head of Government to China since 2008, and we will now take our bilateral relationship to a new high," Rasmussen told Chinese media in a written interview ahead of his visit to China on May 2-5 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang will meet or hold talks with Rasmussen during the visit. The two sides will exchange views on bilateral ties and issues of common concern, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang while announcing the visit on April 25.

BILATERAL TRADE GROWTH

Rasmussen said China is Denmark's largest trading partner in Asia. Bilateral ties in politics and trade and between the two peoples have been promoted since Denmark became the first in 2008 and so far the only Nordic country to sign an agreement on comprehensive strategic partnership with China.

"That partnership has given a strong boost to our bilateral relations," Rasmussen said.

According to the prime minister, bilateral trade has increased remarkably to more than 110 billion Danish kroner (around 16.11 billion U.S. dollars) a year at present, citing data from the country's statistical authorities.

"Danish companies have strongholds in the fields that China values more and more these years, such as environment, energy, health care, pharmaceuticals, food and agricultural products, design and logistical services," Rasmussen said.

A TRIP TO BE FRUITFUL

Rasmussen said a wide range of new agreements will be signed between the two countries during his visit.

"The new agreements will strengthen our economic and trade cooperation," he said.

According to the prime minister, Denmark and China will launch a Chinese-Danish Food and Drug Regulatory Cooperation Center that will help facilitate knowledge-sharing between public authorities in the two countries.

"This will serve the benefit of consumers with faster and smoother access to high-quality products," he said.

In terms of cultural and people-to-people exchanges, Rasmussen said the two countries will sign a bilateral film agreement that allows China and Denmark to work on co-productions in the film industry.

"Danish movies and TV-series have gained international acclaim, and I personally feel that Denmark has a lot to offer in this area," he said.

During his visit, China and Denmark will launch the first "Joint Work Program," which contains 58 concrete joint cooperation areas between 80 Chinese and Danish state institutions. "This will take the cooperation between our institutions one important step further," Rasmussen said.