Denmark looks forward to President Hu's visit

COPENHAGEN - Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming state visit to Denmark, the first by a Chinese president, signals fresh opportunities to deepen bilateral relations.

Hu's visit from June 14 to 16 is aimed at strengthening the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership, which was forged  in 2008. It will also mark another milestone in bilateral relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1950. It  will raise Denmark's profile in China and help bring the world's  second-largest economy closer to Europe.

"I very much look forward to the historic visit of President Hu Jintao," Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said in a June 6 statement.

"China's role and relevance in the development of large parts  of the world has grown rapidly in recent years. Both Denmark and China have much to gain by a closer relationship and I look forward to discussing how we can further strengthen the depth and  breadth of our strategic partnership," she said.

Denmark is the only Nordic country and one of the few countries in Europe that has a strategic partnership with China."We have never had a Chinese president visiting us, so this is absolutely unique," said Professor Verner Worm, director of  Copenhagen Business Confucius Institute, a study center of Chinese language and culture.

"It will bring the relationship up to a level we have not seen  for many years," Worm told Xinhua."Denmark was one of the first countries to set up diplomatic relations with China and, hopefully, we can continue to be a country that supports China and works closely with it."

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II made a state visit to China in 1979, the first by a Western monarch. In 1974, Danish Prime Minister Poul Hartling was among the first Western heads of government to pay an official visit to China. Five other Danish prime ministers have since made the journey.

During the upcoming trip, President Hu will have a private meeting with Queen Margrethe II, and attend a state banquet at Christiansborg Castle, the seat of Denmark's parliament, on June 15.

His visit would pave the way for more high-level visits from both sides, said Professor Kjeld Erik Broedsgaard of the Asia Research Center at Copenhagen Business School.  

"The visit is very important on a symbolic level, no matter  what they reach in terms of specific agreements," Broedsgaard  said. "It will further improve our Sino-Danish relations and, of course, it will be interesting to see what kinds of specific results there are," he told Xinhua.

Ordinary Danes are also curious and optimistic about Hu's visit. News blogs and social media sites have been abuzz as mainstream media build up coverage ahead of the trip.

"Denmark is impressed with, and positive about, China's economic success -- we want to be part of it, and we can see how millions of people are living better lives there today than just a few years ago," said Claus Sjoerslev Madsen, a Copenhagen  high-school teacher who previously worked and lived in China. "Denmark should welcome the opportunity to expand relations with China, not only commercially, but also culturally, politically and on human rights issues."

Former Danish foreign minister Per Stig Moeller echoed these thoughts, saying, "China is a decisive global player with whom it is important to have dialogue." 

He said the occasion presented a great chance to discuss pressing global issues, including the economic crisis and China's relations with the European Union (EU).  

Economy, sustainability

The Danish prime minister's office said discussions during Hu's visit would largely focus on issues of sustainability and the economy.

The Danish industry already has major commercial interests in China, and Hu's visit is expected to further bolster two-way trade and business opportunities. "China is an increasingly important market for Danish companies and China is our sixth largest trading partner," Danish Trade  Minister Pia Olsen Dyhr said.