Hu inspects Copenhagen's green initiatives

COPENHAGEN - Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday inspected sustainable development and green living initiatives in the Danish capital, one of the world's most environmentally friendly cities.

After meeting Danish Queen Margrethe II, Hu and the queen viewed examples of the capital's green features aboard the royal yacht.

Copenhagen harbor is an example of the city's efforts at environmental protection and green growth. In July 2002, Copenhagen opened Harbor Bath at Brygge Island to provide residents with a clean environment for swimming, fishing and recreational activities.

Swimming in the harbor was banned in 1954 due to contamination by wastewater and stormwater.

However, in the past two decades, the city has invested in treatment plants and sewer systems and improved the water quality immensely.

Copenhagen is well known for its green living, with 36 percent of all residents commuting to work by bicycle. The capital intends to become carbon neutral by 2025, and in 2015 to reduce carbon emissions by 20 percent.

In recent years, many city planners and political leaders from all over the world have visited the Danish capital to study its bicycle traffic, district heating system and its waste management.

Hu arrived in Copenhagen Thursday for a state visit to the Nordic nation, the first by a Chinese head of state since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 62 years ago.

From Denmark, Hu will travel to Los Cabos, Mexico, for the June 18-19 summit of the Group of Twenty (G20), which will address pressing issues affecting global economic growth and stability.