I. Political Relations

The Kingdom of Denmark recognized the People's Republic of China on 9th January 1950 and the two countries established diplomatic relations on May 11 in the same year. Denmark was the second Western country after Sweden to establish diplomatic ties with China. On 15th February 1956, the two countries upgraded diplomatic relations from ministerial to ambassadorial level and exchanged ambassadors.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the Sino-Danish bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields have witnessed a gradual development. In the 1950s Denmark rendered its support to China in restoring its legitimate seat in the United Nations. The two governments signed the Trade Agreement in 1957.

The official contacts between China and Denmark increased in the 1960s and 1970s, and the bilateral trade relations between the two countries recorded a rapid growth. In October 1974, Mr. Hartling, Prime Minister of Denmark, visited China at the invitation of the Chinese Government. This was the first official visit to China by a Danish Head of Government. In September 1979, at the invitation of the Chinese Government, Queen Magarate II paid a state visit to China as the first Head of State of Denmark who ever visited China.

In the 1980s, the relations between the two countries developed steadily. The heads of the two governments exchanged visits and the scope of cooperation expanded constantly. The Danish Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Parliament paid successive visits to China. From the beginning of the 1990s, Vice-Premier Tian Jiyun and Zhu Rongji (1992), Chairman of the National Committee of CPPCC Li Ruihuan, Vice-Premier Zou Jiahua (1994), Vice-Premier Li Lanqing (1998) and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan (1999) visited Denmark. In 1995, Premier Li Peng attended UN Social & Development Summit in Copenhagen.  In November 1999, Danish Foreign Minister Petersen visited China.  In May 2000, on the occasion of marking the 50th anniversary of forging bilateral ties, the Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen accompanied by his wife visited China during which President Jiang Zemin and Premier Zhu Rongji held talk with his respectively.


II. Trade Relations & Economic-Technological Cooperation

In 1980, the Sino-Danish Mixed Committee of Trade and Economic Cooperation was established and the bilateral trade expanded by leaps and bounds over recent years. The trade volume from 1992 to 1995 was doubled, rising from about US$ 300 million to US$ 600 million. According to the statistics from China's General Administration of Customs, the total trade volume between the two countries in 2000 amounted to US$ 1.334 billion over the previous year, of which China export reached US$ 782 million and import US$ 552 million, increasing by 27.1% and 38% respectively over 1999.  China's major export commodities to Denmark are: clothing, textiles, plastic products, shoes, pharmaceuticals, toys, decorative pottery, bags & cases. China's major import commodities from Denmark include: ships, food processing machinery, chemical fertilizer, instruments, electricity generators & converters, components of diesel locomotives and refrigerating equipments.

Denmark began to invest directly in China in 1982. In 2000, there are about 10 Danish investment projects in China, with a contractual volume of about US$ 110 million and an implemented volume of US$ 46.02 million, covering areas such as medicine, dairy products, furniture, transportation and environmental protection. The major Sino-Danish joint-ventures are: China International Marine Containers (Group) Co. Ltd., Beijing Dongzhimen International Apartment Co. Ltd. (East Lake Villas), Beijing Shou-Dan Furniture Co. Ltd., Novo Nordisk A/S, Novo Nordisk (China) Biotechnology Co. Ltd., etc.

Denmark was among the first Western countries that provided China government loans. The two sides signed the first agreement on loans in April 1982, and by the end of 2000, Denmark provided China with government loans worth of US$ 540 million funding 100 projects in the fields of wind-power electricity generation, urban water supply, sewage treatment, central heating, medical treatment & health, food processing, cement and foundry.


III. Exchanges & Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Science & Technology, Education and Military

Cultural contacts between China and Denmark have taken up a dynamic momentum in recent years, as reflected by frequent exchanges of visits between literature and art organizations of the two countries. Performance groups from Shanghai Puppet Troupe, Wuhan Peking Opera Troupe, Henan Acrobatic Troupe, Canton Acrobatic Troupe, Tibet Song & Dance Ensemble made cultural trips to Denmark successively, and the Royal Danish Ballet Troupe also visited China. Furthermore, the two countries held a number of cultural activities such as film weeks and art exhibitions. In 1997 Denmark granted the Royal Knight Medal and 1997 Andersen Award to Lin Hua, the Chinese translator of the new edition of the complete works of H. C. Andersen. In may 1999, the two countries signed the plan for cooperation in culture, science and education between China and Denmark. The Royal Danish Ballet Troupe performed in China. The Danish side also held exhibitions on the life and works of H.C. Andersen—Blixen Karen and on Danish arts and design.

The official exchange of students between China and Denmark began in 1974. By the end of 1999, 292 Chinese students with scholarship studying in Denmark and Denmark has 16 students with scholarship studying in China. Besides, China have sent about 100 scholars to lecture in Denmark and invited more than 50 Danish scholars to China. Many universities in China such as Zhejiang University, Fudan University, Dalian Science & Technology University, Harbin Technology University, Hefei Technology University and Guangxi Medical University have set up intercollegiate exchange relations with Copenhagen University, Danish Technology University, Aarhus University, Aalborg University and Copenhagen Economic Institute.

In 1987, the two countries signed the Protocol of Science & Technology Cooperation and the Memorandum of Understanding on Architectural Technology and Economic Cooperation. A session of Mixed Committee on Science and Technology co-sponsored by the two countries is held annually. In 2000, the two sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Amendment to the Maritime Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations the Chinese and Danish armies have maintained normal contacts. China set up a Military Attache's Office in Denmark in October 1950. Up to now, Denmark doesn't have a Military Attache's Office in China. In 1993, China participated in the Military Pentathlon Championship of CISM held in Denmark, while Denmark took part in the championship held in China in 1998.  Vice Chairman of the Central Military Committee and Defense Minister General Chi Haotian had a stopover in Denmark in 2000.


IV. Consular Relations

Denmark established the Consulate General in Shanghai and Guangzhou respectively in June 1994 and September 1998. And in June 1997, the two Governments reached an agreement and exchanged notes on the maintenance of the Danish Consulate General in Hong Kong SAR after 1 July 1997.  In September 1998, Denmark opened another Consulate General in Guangzhou.


V. List of Important Bilateral Agreements & Documents

1. Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark on Trade & Payment (1957)

2. Agreement on Civil Air Transport between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark (1973)

3. Maritime Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark (1974)

4. Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark on Economic & Technology Cooperation (1979)

5. Investment Protection Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark (1985)

6. Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark for Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income (1986)

7. Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark on Agricultural Cooperation (1994)

8. Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark on Environmental Protection (1996)