China awards Denmark’s Friis Arne Petersen “Friendship Ambassador”

The Danish Ambassador has been awarded the honorary title of “Friendship Ambassador” by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC).

The honorary title was conferred upon Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen, at a ceremony at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs the 26th of June, for his commitment to advancing friendship and cooperation between Denmark and China during his tenure as Danish Ambassador to China 2010-2015.

Ambassador-Arne-Friis

Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen is the first Danish citizen to receive this award. The honorary title has existed in 25 years and a total of 96 different citizens have been awarded the title during these years. It follows the celebrations of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Denmark and China.

At the ceremony the Chinese government was represented by Vice Minister Wang Chao from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vice Energy Minister Liu Qi, Director Generals from many sectorial ministries – that Denmark has the closest cooperation with – in the Chinese Government.

“From when Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen was Permanent Secretary of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to his post as an Ambassador here, he has been directly involved in growing bilateral relations, he has personally led the effort to advance the exchanges and cooperation between our two countries in various fields and brought about a number of historical breakthroughs in our bilateral relationship. He has captured the hearts of Chinese people through his sincere exchanges with them both by participating in popular TV shows such as Tiantian Xiangshang and through the social media, where he is the foreign Ambassador with most followers in China with more than 100,000 followers,” said Vice Minister Wang Chao.

Vice President Song Jingwu from CPAFFC was there to present the award to Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen.

“We hope Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen will continue to act as the ‘Friendship Ambassador’ between China and Denmark, and enhance the friendship between our two peoples. We hope that, as an old friend of Chinese people, he will continue to introduce China to the whole world and promote the world’s understanding of China.”

Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen was appointed as Ambassador to China in 2010. Prior to China, he was Permanent Secretary of State in the Danish Foreign Ministry for more than eight years from 1997-2005, the Danish Ambassador to the US from 2005 to 2010. Starting from August 2015, he will be posted in Berlin as Denmark’s new Ambassador to Germany.

“In addition, Ambassador Petersen’s pioneering spirit and his personal charisma has also played an important role in enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship.” said Vice Minister Wang Chao in his introduction of the award in the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Read also: Five questions for the Danish Ambassador to China

About Joakim Persson

Freelance business and lifestyle photojournalist

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