Premier Li Keqiang said China is willing to expand its comprehensive strategic partnership with Denmark, during a meeting with the visiting Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen in Beijing on May 3.
The Premier said that Denmark, as one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with China, always maintained the one-China policy, setting a solid foundation for the bilateral relationship. China would like to promote mutual trust and cooperation of the two countries, as next year marks the 10th anniversary of the Sino-Danish comprehensive strategic partnership.
China and Denmark have complementary economies, overlapping benefits and high cooperation potential, the Premier said.
He called on the two countries to implement the China-Denmark Joint Work Program (2017-2020), a middle- and long-term cooperation guideline expanding cooperation in fields such as agriculture, food safety, healthcare and biotechnology.
He also urged promoting cooperation in innovation, green development, Arctic affairs, local government, social security and cultural exchanges, especially the China-Denmark Tourism Year 2017.
China attaches importance to Denmark’s role in China-EU and China-North Europe relationship, and is willing to collaborate with Denmark on international, regional and subregional issues, he said, adding that both sides should promote an inclusive, multi-win and fair economic globalization, facilitate a free and convenient trade and investment, and promote peace and prosperity.
Rasmussen said Denmark is the first country in northern Europe to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, and firmly sticks to the one-China policy. One of the priorities in Denmark’s diplomacy is to develop China-Denmark comprehensive strategic partnership, he said.
The China-Denmark relationship has grown rapidly, with extensive cooperation. Denmark hopes to use the opportunities of the 10th anniversary marking the comprehensive strategic partnership, promote the implementation of Denmark-China Joint Work Program, and successfully run the China-Denmark Tourism Year activities.
Denmark is willing to work with China in the fields of technological innovation, energy saving and environmental protection, information communication, agriculture and fishery, food safety, medicine and health, and tourism, and to promote local cooperation, Rasmussen said.
He added that Denmark supports the principles of free trade and welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in the country. As an EU member, Denmark supports the negotiations on China-EU bilateral investment treaty, and is ready to take an active role in China-EU cooperation.
The two countries released the China-Denmark Joint Work Program (2017-2020) after the meeting. Premier Li and Rasmussen witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements involving cultural exchanges, food and drugs, inspection and quarantine, and animal protection.
Before the meeting, Premier Li held a welcome ceremony for Rasmussen in front of the Great Hall of the People.
