Denmark looks forward to President Hu's visit

According to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a number of agreements are "expected to be concluded" during the presidential visit, Danish public broadcaster DR News reported on June 6.

Among these are agreements on cooperation between the Danish Food and Agriculture Ministry and its Chinese counterpart, the export of malt barley, certification of meat products, stronger cooperation on food quality, and organic food products.

Specific contracts remain under wraps, but Dyhr said deals worth  "several billions" of Danish kroner would be concluded during the visit.

"I absolutely expect that we will close a number of export deals with China," she said on June 7 in comments cited by Danish national newspaper Berlingske Tidende.

"China's most recent 12th Five-Year Plan stresses the importance of achieving quality growth and sustainable development more than ever before," Danfoss Chairman Joergen Clausen said in an email to Xinhua on June 7.

"In response, Chinese industries and society are striving to reach green goals by saving energy and reducing carbon emissions in all aspects of work and life. This generates substantial demand for energy-efficient products and solutions," he said.

Danfoss, along with pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, industrial enzyme manufacturer Novozymes, and wind-turbine producer Vestas, are some of the flagship Danish brands that have a deep-rooted market presence and production base in China. They have employed tens of thousands of Chinese across the industrial value chain, and their products supply local and export markets.

Danish shipping and oil group A.P. Moller-Maersk, the world's largest container shipping company, believes Hu's visit will boost the existing good momentum in bilateral trade.

"We expect that the President's visit will support this momentum and enhance the understanding of China by Danish business and public in general," Maersk Group CEO Nils S. Andersen said in an email to Xinhua.

For Maersk Group, which has invested heavily in terminals, logistics and container factories in China, China remained "a key market" and "a powerhouse for growth in Asia and the world," he said.

That is a good sign, as the shipping industry remains vital for Denmark's export-led economy, given that some 10 percent of global, seaborne container traffic is handled by Danish shippers.

According to official Chinese statistics, bilateral trade volume between China and Denmark hit a historical high of 9.26 billion U.S. dollars in 2011, up 18.3 percent from the previous year. Meanwhile, Denmark has invested in 718 projects in China, with a paid-in investment of 2.16 billion dollars.

The Danish Trade Ministry said Denmark's exports to China were worth 15.1 billion kroner (about 2.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2011.

Hu's upcoming visit offered "a good opportunity to brand China in Denmark, and Denmark in China," and could help attract more investment from China into Denmark, the DCBF's Jensen said.

Strategic partnership

Business aside, experts here believe the visit provides the right context for productive dialogue on strategic affairs, especially on Europe, given that Denmark currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

"I hope this visit signifies increased attention to common interests, not only in bilateral relations, but also between the European Union and China," said Clemens Stubbe Oestergaard, Professor emeritus in political science at Aarhus University.

"As the EU needs China in a number of areas, and still has a lot to offer, it is important not to lose any time in strengthening the relationship," he told Xinhua.

During its EU presidency, which lasts until the end of June, Denmark has worked to find consensus in the 27-member bloc on measures to boost growth and jobs in Europe, with a special focus on green growth.

The CBCI's Worm said the EU presidency also helped make Denmark "a country which can be China's gateway to Europe."

Closer and deeper engagement with China, through the EU and multilateral organizations, and through enhanced trade, could also benefit world peace, development and stability.

Hu will meet Thorning-Schmidt on June 16 to discuss bilateral cooperation, the strategic partnership, and current issues of common concern, the Danish prime minister's office has said.

While politics and the economy will dominate the headlines during the visit, the Sino-Danish partners will also be aiming to make agreements on cultural and educational areas.

"China has the chance to show more than its economic power by showing other countries its cultural qualities and character," said Per Stig Moeller, who has also served as Denmark's culture minister.

Whatever the practical outcomes, the visit is sure to stimulate stronger interest in China from Denmark and the Danes.

"Danes will say, 'Here is the second-largest economy in the world, and its president has come to Denmark -- it is a unique situation'," Worm said.