China, Denmark agree to deepen strategic partnership, cooperation

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his Danish counterpart Villy Sovendal agreed here Wednesday to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation. China attaches great importance to its ties with Denmark, and seeks to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, Yang said. He urged the two countries to work together in such areas as promoting mutual understanding, deepening bilateral economic cooperation in areas like energy, environmental protection, green economy, agriculture and food safety, and enhancing people-to-people exchanges. The Chinese foreign minister also welcomed Danish enterprises to increase their investment in China and called on China's firms to start doing business in Denmark. Yang said China hopes that the two countries adhere to the principle of mutual respect and equality, and properly handle sensitive issues concerning China's core interests so as to maintain the political foundation of the development of the China-Denmark relationship. The two sides could strengthen their communication and coordination in international affairs, and China expects Denmark to play a constructive role in promoting the relationship between China and Europe when Copenhagen holds the the rotating EU presidency in the first half of next year, Yang said. Yang's two-day visit to Denmark also includes a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and a keynote speech at Copenhagen University on Thursday. His visit, the first by a Chinese foreign minister to Denmark in 11 years, comes weeks after a new government comprising a coalition of center-left parties took office here. Sovendal said the Danish government would like to further deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries, and promote high-level exchange visits and mutual understanding. He also vowed that Denmark would play an active role in developing Europe-China relations and reaffirmed Denmark's commitment to the one-China policy. Speaking at a joint press conference following the meeting between the two ministers, Yang said China attaches great importance to its strategic partnership with Europe. China supports Europe's integration and believes that Europe would overcome its current difficulties, he said. Responding to journalists' questions, Yang and Sovendal both stressed the need for strong cooperation between China and the EU. When questioned by the Danish media on human rights in China, Yang said the Chinese people are enjoying unprecedented democratic rights. China is open to holding a dialogue on human rights issues with other countries on the basis of mutual respect and equality, he said. He also said that any bias against the human rights situation in China should be corrected. Yang will depart Denmark Thursday for a visit to the Bahamas.