Li Keqiang Holds Talks with Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen of Denmark, Stressing to Deepen China-Denmark Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Push China-EU Relations as well as Relationship and Cooperation Between China and Northern European Countries for New Progress

On the afternoon of May 3, 2017, Premier Li Keqiang held talks at the Great Hall of the People with Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen of Denmark, who was in China for an official visit.

Li Keqiang pointed out that Denmark was one of the first Western countries that established diplomatic relations with China, with long-term adherence to the one-China policy. China-Denmark relations enjoy firm foundation, sound development momentum and increasingly deepened non-governmental friendly exchanges. China is ready to take the opportunity of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to consolidate mutual trust, deepen cooperation, expand exchanges and promote relationship and cooperation between China and Denmark for greater development.

Li Keqiang pointed out that the Danish and Chinese economies are highly complementary to each other, enjoying many integrating points and bright prospects for cooperation. Both sides should implement the mid-long term action plan of China-Denmark Joint Work Program (2017-2020) that was reached early during the visit. The two countries should expand two-way trade and investment cooperation, enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in fields including agriculture, fishery, food safety, health care, biological technology, build highlight projects in various fields, namely innovation-driven development, green and coordinated development, Arctic cooperation, regional cooperation, strengthen exchanges and mutual learning in a wide range of areas such as social insurance and governance, maintain close people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and well host the China-Denmark Tourism Year 2017.

Li Keqiang stressed that China attaches great importance to the role of Denmark in promoting relationship and cooperation between China and the EU as well as between China and the Northern European countries. China is willing to, together with Denmark, enhance communication and coordination in terms of regional, sub-regional affairs, and international and regional issues, promote mutually beneficial and practical cooperation between both sides, guide economic globalization towards the direction of inclusiveness and mutual benefit, equality and rationality, push forward trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, maintain peace and stability, and promote development and prosperity.

Lars Løkke Rasmussen expressed that as the first Northern European country to establish the comprehensive strategic partnership with China, Denmark firmly adheres to the one-China policy. To develop Denmark-China comprehensive strategic partnership is the diplomatic focus of Denmark. Denmark and China carry out cooperation in a wide range of areas, achieving substantial progress in bilateral relations. Denmark is willing to take the opportunity of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of Denmark-China comprehensive strategic partnership to implement the Denmark-China Joint Work Program (2017-2020), well manage the Denmark-China Tourism Year 2017, and deepen practical cooperation in such fields as science, innovation, energy conservation and environment protection, information and communication, agriculture and fishery, food safety, health care, tourism and locality. Denmark welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and establish business in Denmark and advocates free trade. As a member of the EU, Denmark supports the advancement of the negotiation on the EU-China Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), and stands ready to make contributions to the development of Europe-China relations and cooperation.

Before the talks, Li Keqiang held a welcoming ceremony for Lars Løkke Rasmussen at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People. Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Ma Peihua and others attended the ceremony.

After the talks, the two governments released the China-Denmark Joint Work Program (2017-2020). Li Keqiang and Lars Løkke Rasmussen witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents in such fields as people-to-people and cultural exchanges, food and drugs, inspection and quarantine, and animal protection.