Xi calls for closer ties with Denmark

Chinese President Xi Jinping(R) meets with Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 4, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping called for joint efforts with Denmark on Thursday to make 2017 "the Year of Harvest" for the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Xi made the remark while meeting with visiting Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Rasmussen began a four-day official visit to China on Tuesday.

The two countries should map out the plans for cooperation in all areas and jointly push forward the healthy and fast development of China-Denmark relations, Xi said.

The president pointed out that the two sides should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, strengthen high-level and other exchanges, and boost communication between government departments, legislative authorities, political parties and local governments.

China-Denmark cooperation should focus on such areas as recyclable economy, energy savings, environmental protection, food safety, agricultural science, renewable resources and urbanization, Xi said, adding that the two countries should cooperate more on high technology.

The two countries should continue to enhance practical cooperation to hunt fugitives who have fled abroad, make joint efforts in tourism, panda research and soccer, and strengthen coordination under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, Xi said.

China has always been supportive of Europe's integration process and is willing to establish peace, growth, reform and civilization partnerships with Europe, he added.

Noting that the world is undergoing serious and complex changes with increasing uncertainties, Xi said that the international community should unite and cooperate rather than promote confrontation and conflict.

China is willing to make continuous efforts to push forward the development of China-Denmark relations to achieve new progress in ties, he said.

Mentioning that it is his second visit to China as Danish prime minister, Rasmussen said that China has continued to develop immensely since his last visit in 2010 to attend the Boao Forum in Hainan province.

"You increasingly show leadership on global issues, like UN peacekeeping, sustainable development and climate. This is very admirable," Rasmussen told Xi.

Denmark sticks to the one-China policy, the prime minister said.

The Denmark-China relationship is based on win-win cooperation, Rasmussen said, adding that "there are many areas where we see great potential for closer cooperation" between the two countries.

Denmark would like to make joint efforts with China to tap the potential of cooperation in areas including medicine, food, education, culture, tourism and soccer, he said.

Denmark is willing to strengthen coordination with China in international affairs and enhance cooperation in sustainable development and jointly maintain the global free trade system, Rasmussen added.