This week, the European Affairs Committee of the Danish Parliament is visiting China. During their stay they will go to Beijing, Chongqing and Shanghai.
From March 6th to 12th the Danish Parliament’s European Affairs Committee is visiting China. The delegation will go to Beijing, Chongqing and Shanghai where they will visit Chinese officials, businesses and universities.
In Beijing, the nine members of the Danish delegation yesterday met with Fu Ying, vice Minister of Foreign Affairs to discuss China-EU relations. They also met with the Director General of the Climate Change Department of the National Development and Reform Commission to exchange views on low carbon development.
Head of the Danish delegation, Ms. Eva Kjer Hansen (middle) in conversation with Fu Ying, vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. On the left Niels Helveg Petersen.
Second largest trade partner
“As parliamentarians we need to study from and become inspired by new trends from growth centres like China. Both on a political and a commercial level our two countries have close ties and a long history. This has led to many concrete cooperation initiatives such as the new Sino-Danish University Centre in Beijing and the Renewable Energy Programme which aims at creating a more sustainable energy sector in China,” says vice-Chairman of the Committee Eva Kjer Hansen.
Eva Kjer Hansen also stresses that the European economy is growingly influenced by China, and therefore the future of Europe is closely tied to that of China.
China is the EU’s second largest trade partner next to USA.
Wind turbines and electric cars
During their visit to the booming western Chinese city Chongqing the delegation will visit CSIC Haizhuang, a wind turbine manufacturer that uses several Danish sub-suppliers, and ChangAn-Ford-Mazda car factory to learn about their development of electric cars.
In Shanghai the delegation will visit the Fudan University’s Centre for European Studies, the EU Chamber of Commerce and the Foreign Affairs Committee of Shanghai’s People’s Congress.
The Danish delegation counts nine members. Among them are two former ministers including the former Foreign Minister, Niels Helveg Petersen.
