On October 19, 2011, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with his Danish counterpart Villy Sovendal in Copenhagen. Both sides agreed to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation.
China attaches great importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with Denmark, and seeks to maintain the sound growth momentum of bilateral relations between the two countries and continuously push the ties to a new high, Yang said. He urged the two countries to work together in the following aspects. First, promote personnel exchanges at all levels to enhance mutual understanding and trust. Second, deepen economic cooperation and focus on promoting exchanges and cooperation on energy, environmental protection, green economy, agriculture and food safety. The Chinese foreign minister also welcomed Danish enterprises to increase their investment in China and called on competitive Chinese firms to start doing business in Denmark. Third, continue to strengthen cultural exchanges and support language teaching, personnel exchanges and cultural activities. Fourth, Yang said China hopes that the two countries adhere to the principle of mutual respect and equality, and properly handle sensitive issues concerning Tibet and other China's core interests so as to maintain the political foundation of the development of the China-Denmark relationship. Fifth, strengthen communication and coordination in international affairs. China expects Denmark to play a constructive role in promoting the relationship between China and Europe when Copenhagen holds the rotating EU presidency in the first half of next year, Yang said.
Sovendal congratulated China on the 100th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution and the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and expressed admiration for China's development achievements. He said that Denmark was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and bilateral ties have been developing rapidly in all areas. He said the new Danish government would like to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, and promote the exchange of high-level visits, dialogue and mutual understanding. He urged both sides to conduct closer and more dynamic cooperation and exchanges in the economic, trade, cultural and other sectors. He also vowed that Denmark would play an active role in developing Europe-China relations and reaffirmed Denmark's adherence to the one-China policy.
Both sides also exchanged views on the current international situation and issues of common concern.
Following the talks, the two foreign ministers took questions from journalists. On China-Europe relations, Yang said China attaches great importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with Europe. China supports Europe's integration and believes that the EU would overcome its current difficulties, he said, adding China has offered help within its ability. China is willing to make joint efforts with the EU to further enhance the level of bilateral relations. Yang also said the relations between China and the Nordic countries have maintained a sound growth momentum in general.
On human rights issues, Yang said the Chinese people are enjoying unprecedented democratic rights and China's human rights cause has made great achievements recognized by the international community. China is ready to hold dialogue on human rights issues with relevant countries on the basis of mutual respect and equality to jointly promote the development of the international human rights cause, he said. He also said that any bias against the human rights situation in China should be corrected.