On April 24, 2014, President Xi Jinping held talks with Queen Margrethe II of Denmark at the Great Hall of the People. The two heads of state reviewed with pleasure the China-Denmark friendly exchanges. They decided to strengthen cooperation and to jointly open up a new prospect for the bilateral relations.
Xi Jinping said, Your Majesty paid a visit to China in 1979. It was the first time that a head of state from a Western country visited China following China's reform and opening-up. Now you visit China once again after 35 years. It is at a time when China has entered a new phase of development. Your two visits have witnessed the historical process of China's reform and opening-up from the beginning to the comprehensive deepening, and been strong push for the development of China-Denmark relations. You are an old friend of the Chinese people, and we highly appreciate the important contributions you and the Danish royal family have made to the enhancement of China-Denmark friendship.
Xi Jinping pointed out, China-Denmark relations are at their best in history, with the practical cooperation yielding fruitful results. China has become Denmark's largest trade partner in Asia and second-largest overseas destination for investment. Not long ago, China and Denmark jointly participated in the shipping and escorting of Syria's chemical weapons for destruction, which has set a successful example of cooperation in international affairs. China now stands at an important period of in-depth development of new-type industrialization, informatization, urbanization and agricultural modernization and boasts huge growth potential for the investment and consumption demands, while Denmark has rich experience and technological advantages in the above fields. Both sides should actively expand the cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, health care, food safety, energy conservation, environmental protection and other fields, and enhance the people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries, especially between the students, to jointly push forward the China-Europe relations. China is willing to join efforts with Denmark to push the China-Denmark comprehensive strategic partnership to a new high.
Margrethe II said that during her visit this time, she personally witnessed China's great changes brought by its development and was deeply impressed. A number of Ministers from the Danish government were in company with her for the visit. She hoped that the visit will help to further deepen the existing sound relations of the two countries, to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, and to promote the mutually beneficial cooperation for more results.
The two heads of state also together witnessed the signing of a series of cooperative documents.
Prior to the meeting, Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Margrethe II at the Square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People. President Xi Jinping's wife Mme. Peng Liyuan, Vice Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress Yan Junqi, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Vice Chairman Zhang Qingli of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and others were present.