China and Denmark

(Last update: 2004/03/04)

I. Political Relations

The Kingdom of Denmark recognized the People's Republic of China on 9th January 1950 and the two countries established diplomatic relations on May 11 in the same year. Denmark was the second Western country after Sweden to establish diplomatic ties with China. On 15th February 1956, the two countries upgraded diplomatic relations from ministerial to ambassadorial level and exchanged ambassadors.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Sino-Danish bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields have witnessed a gradual development. In the 1950s Denmark rendered its support to China in restoring its legitimate seat in the United Nations. The two governments signed a Trade Agreement in 1957.

The official contacts between China and Denmark increased in the 1960s and 1970s, and trade between the two countries recorded a rapid growth. In October 1974, Mr. Hartling, Prime Minister of Denmark, visited China on the invitation of the Chinese Government. This was the first official visit to China by a Danish Head of Government. In September 1979, at the invitation of the Chinese Government, Queen Magarate II paid a state visit to China as the first Danish Head of State that had visited China. In the 1980s, the relations between the two countries developed steadily. The heads of the two governments exchanged visits constantly and the scope of cooperation was expanding. The Danish Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Parliament paid successive visits to China. From the beginning of the 1990s, Vice-Premier Tian Jiyun and Zhu Rongji (1992), Chairman of the National Committee of CPPCC Li Ruihuan, Vice-Premier Zou Jiahua (1994), Premier Li Peng (1995, attended UN Social & Development Summit in Copenhagen), Vice-Premier Li Lanqing (1998) and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan (1999), Premier Zhu Rongji(2002), President of the Supreme People's Procuratorate Jia Chunwang(2003) visited Denmark successively. Danish Foreign Minister Petersen (1999), Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (2000), Foreign Minister Mogens Lykketoft, President of the Supreme Court Jacque Hermann (2001), Environment Minister Hans Christian Schmidt, Defense Minister Svend Aage Jensby, Food and Agriculture Minister Mariann Fischer Boel, Transport Minister Flemming Hansen (2002), Enviroment Minister Hans Christian Schmidt, and Culture Minister Brian Mikkelsen (2003) visited China successively.

In February 2004, Danish Prime Minister Andres Fogn Rasmussen paid an working visit to China.

II. Trade Relations & Economic-Technological Cooperation

In 1980, the Sino-Danish Mixed Committee of Trade and Economic Cooperation was established and the bilateral trade expanded by leaps and bounds over recent years. The annual trade volume between two countries was doubled from 1992 to 1995, rising from about US$ 300 million to US$ 600 million. According to statistics from the Chinese Customs, the trade volume between China and Denmark in 2003 was US$2.46 billion, an increase of 58.2% from the previous year.  China's export value was US$1500 million and its import value was US$960 million, up by 63% and 51.4% respectively compared with the previous year. The main commodities China exported to Denmark were mechanical and electrical products, garments, textiles, plastic products, shoes, medical products, toys, decorative ceramics, traveling articles and suitcases and bags, etc. and the main commodities China imported from Denmark were food processing machines, fertilizer, precision instruments, generating and refrigerating equipment, etc.

Denmark was among the first Western countries that provided China government loans. In April 1982, the two sides concluded the first loan agreement. Up to 2003, the actually utilized government loans provided by Denmark to China summed up to US$570 million, which involved more than 100 projects covering wind power, urban water supply, waste water treatment, central heating, medical treatment and health, food processing, cement, casting, etc.  Denmark started its direct investment in China in 1982.  Up to the end of 2003, there were a total of 267 business projects with Danish investment in China with contracted investment reaching US$1.41 billion and the capital actually utilized totaling approximately US$519 million, mainly involving medicines, navigation, diary products, smelting, nonferrous metals processing, chemical industry, marine machines, building materials, foods, environmental production and technical consultation in architecture and other fields. The main Denmark based enterprises in China are Novozymes Bioengineering Co., Ltd., Maersk Navigation Co., Ltd. Danfoss Co., Ltd. and Danisco Co., Ltd.

III. Exchanges & Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Science & Technology, Education and Military

Cultural contacts between China and Denmark have taken up a dynamic momentum in recent years, as reflected by frequent exchanges of visits between literature and art organizations of the two countries. Performance groups from Shanghai Puppet Troupe, Wuhan Peking Opera Troupe, Henan Acrobatic Troupe, Canton Acrobatic Troupe, Tibet Song & Dance Ensemble made cultural trips to Denmark successively, and the Royal Danish Ballet Troupe also visited China. Furthermore, the two countries held a number of cultural activities such as film weeks and art exhibitions. In 1997 Denmark granted the Royal Knight Medal and 1997 Andersen Award to Lin Hua, the translator of the new Chinese version of the complete works of H. C. Andersen. In May 1999, China and Denmark signed the plan for cooperation in culture, science and education between the two countries. In 2000, the Danish Royal Ballet Troupe gave performance in China.  The Danish side also held touring exhibitions in China including the Exhibition of Works and Life of Hans Andersen - Karen Blixen and the Exhibition of Danish Design Art. In 2002 Chinese writer Lin Hua was granted Karl Blixen Literature Prize in Denmark. TheLetter of Intent for Cultural Exchanges and Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Denmark was signed. A Chinese art and cultural delegation participated in the cultural festival entitled Images of Asia in Copenhagen and Aarhus. A number of Danish cities hosted Chinese exhibitions on ceramic art, paper cutting, modern art, movies and photography.

The official exchange of students between China and Denmark began in 1974. In 2003, there were over 400 Chinese students in Denmark and Denmark has nearly 200 students in China. China have sent about 100 scholars to lecture in Denmark and invited more than 50 Danish scholars to China. Many universities in China such as Zhejiang University, Fudan University, Dalian Science & Technology University, Harbin Technology University, Hefei Technology University and Guangxi Medical University have set up intercollegiate exchange relations with Copenhagen University, Danish Technology University, Arhus University, Aalborg University and Copenhagen Economic Institute.

In 1987, the two countries signed the Protocol of Science & Technology Cooperation and the Memorandum of Understanding on Architectural Technology and Economic Cooperation. In 2000, the two sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Amendment to the Maritime Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Chinese and Danish armies have kept normal contacts. China set up a Military Attaché's Office in Denmark in October 1950. Up to now, Denmark doesn't have a Military Attaché's Office in China. In 1993, China participated in the Military Pentathlon Championship of CISM held in Denmark, while Denmark took part in the championship held in China in 1998. General Chi Haotian, vice Chairman of the Central Military Committee and Defense Minister of China, had a stopover in Denmark in 2000. Danish Defense Minister Svend Aage Jensby visited China in 2002.

IV. Consular Relations

Denmark established its Consulate General in Shanghai and Guangzhou respectively in June 1994 and September 1998. And in June 1997, the two Governments reached an agreement and exchanged notes on the maintenance of the Danish Consulate General in Hong Kong SAR after 1 July 1997.  In September 1998, Denmark opened another Consulate General in Guangzhou. In July 2001, China and Denmark exchanged notes concerning the extension of the scope of the consular district of the Danish Consulate General in Shanghai to Jiangxi Province.

V. Sister-city relations

Harbin City (Heilongjiang Province)- Arhus City (1984)

Hefei City (Anhui Province) ? Alborg City (1989)

Shaoxing City (Zhejiang Province)? Odense City (1991)

Tonghua (Jilin Province)? Slagelse City (1993)

Suzhou (Jiangsu Province)-Esbjerg city (2002)

VI. List of Important Bilateral Agreements & Documents

1. Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark on Trade & Payment (1957)

2. Agreement on Civil Air Transport between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark (1973)

3. Maritime Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark (1974)

4. Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark on Economic & Technology Cooperation (1979)

5. Investment Protection Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark (1985)

6. Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark for Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (1986)

7. Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark on Agricultural Cooperation (1994)

8. Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark on Environmental Protection (1996)

9,Memorandum of Understanding on Amendment to the Maritime Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark. (2000)

10. Sino-Danish Agreement concerning quarantine on animals and plants (2001)

11,Memorandum of Understanding between the Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Development and Reform Commission (CDM)(2004)

12,Memorandum of Understanding on Authorized Destination Status between the relevant authorities from Denmark and China (2004)