Udenrigsminister Lars Løkke Rasmussen met today with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing to launch a new Danish-Chinese work program with a focus on climate, energy, environment, and health.
This new work program serves as an update to the agreement reached between Denmark and China in 2017. The updated program is more concentrated in its objectives compared to its predecessor. It aims to facilitate closer collaboration between Danish and Chinese authorities in areas including climate, energy, environment, sustainable food production, health, and green maritime shipping.
Udenrigsminister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated:
“The new work program is good news for both the climate and Danish exports. This program is a follow-up to the partnership agreement we entered into with China in 2008, which, in retrospect, was too broad. Now, we are focusing our cooperation on areas of shared interest: climate, energy, environment, and health. Danish companies are leading in green and sustainable solutions, which are currently in demand in China and can help reduce Chinese CO2 emissions.”
The agenda included a wide range of topics beyond the new work program. The war in Ukraine, security in the South China Sea, and the bilateral relationship between Denmark and China were among the issues discussed.
During the meeting, Lars Løkke Rasmussen urged the Chinese government to use its influence in Moscow to help cease the war in Ukraine.
The Danish Foreign Minister also expressed concerns about the human rights situation in China, particularly in Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Tibet.
Lars Løkke Rasmussen also appealed for restraint from the Chinese government in the Taiwan Strait and emphasized the importance of maintaining the status quo. He further stressed that there are no changes to Denmark’s one-China policy.
Background:
Denmark entered into a strategic partnership agreement with China in 2008. As a follow-up, the two countries established a work program in 2017 to enhance collaboration in various areas. The previous work program expired in 2020, leading to negotiations for a new one. The new work program primarily focuses on environmentally friendly initiatives and will be launched by the two foreign ministers in Beijing. Specifically, the new work program aims to foster closer collaboration between Danish and Chinese authorities in fields such as climate, energy, environment, sustainable food production, health, and green maritime shipping. The previous work program also encompassed cooperation in defense, legal security, police, and human rights. Several European allies and partners, including the USA, also engage in various forms of bilateral cooperation with China’s authorities.
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