Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his Danish counterpart Villy Soevndal agreed October 19 2011 to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation, according to chinadaily.com.cn.
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.
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.
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.
