Wu
Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National
People's Congress, arrived in Copenhagen Monday for a three-day
visit to Denmark, the third leg of a 14-day, four-nation tour that
has already taken him to Russia and Bulgaria.?
On arriving at the airport, Wu expressed his confidence that the
visit will enhance ties by promoting understanding and trust. He
added that China will expand exchange and cooperation with Denmark
on the basis of mutual respect, equality and reciprocity.
Diplomatic relations between China and the Scandinavian country
date back to 1950. Denmark was one of the first Western countries
to recognize the People's Republic of China.
Bilateral trade has jumped from the just under US$300 million in
1992 to US$2.5 billion last year.
While China mainly exports garments, plastic products, shoes,
medicines, toys and suitcases, Denmark provides China with such
items as food processing equipment, chemical fertilizer and
power-generation facilities.
China and Denmark signed a memorandum of understanding earlier
this year on providing visas to Chinese tourists, indicating that
Denmark has become yet another tourist destination for China.
Wu, China's top lawmaker, is scheduled to meet today with the
Presidium of the Danish Parliament, Parliament Speaker Christian
Mejdahl, chairmen of the parliamentary groups and members of the
Foreign Policy Committee. He will meet Queen Margrethe II and Prime
Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen tomorrow.
Also on Wu's itinerary is the Avedore Power Station, a
state-of-the-art plant that provides efficient electricity and
heating.
He will travel to Norway tomorrow.
(China Daily June 1, 2004)