Rasmussen: Denmark Wishes to Develop Comprehensive Cooperation with ChinaRoul Nyrup Rasmussen, prime minister of Denmark, expressed Denmark's wish to develop comprehensive cooperation with China in the realms of economy, trade, environmental protection, energy, and science and education.Rasmussen remarked that in order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Denmark and China, he made a successful visit to China last year. He said over the past 20 years, China had scored tremendous achievements in economic development, which left a deep impression on him. During his China visit, he had invited Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji to visit Denmark. He expressed his hope to meet with Premier Zhu at the Fourth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held in Copenhagen next year. Rasmussen said that Denmark-China bilateral trade relations have a broad prospect. Since the beginning of this year, Denmark's exports to China have increased 44 percent over the same period last year, making China an important trade partner of Denmark, at present, more than 120 Danish enterprises have invested or set up representative offices in China. The Danish government has planned to establish a trade representative office in Chongqing, so as to stimulate Danish enterprises' participation in the large-scale development of China's western region. Denmark has all along supported China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and hopes that China will be able to become a full member of the WTO before the WTO's fourth round of multilateral negotiations. Rasmussen stressed that the Danish government has always adhered to the one-China principle and acknowledged the fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. "As an old friend of the Chinese people I would like to reaffirm this stand of Denmark," said the Prime Minister. He said, "We need China, the world needs China which, in turn, also needs the world. We hope to see a more developed and prosperous China." Rasmussen also answered questions, such as European integration, the EU Summit, Europe-America relations and Denmark's social welfare security system, put to him by the People's Daily Delegation. The People's Daily Delegation visits Denmark at the invitation of Denmark's Berlingske Times. At noontime of June 12, Mr. Peter Wivel, editor-in-chief of Berlingske Times, had a cordial meeting with, and held a banquet for, the delegation, during which both sides had enthusiastic and friendly talks. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |