Last June, the successful state visit here by former Chinese President Hu Jintao marked the start of a new chapter for China-Denmark relations. Today, it is followed up by the visit of Mr. Yu Zhengsheng, member of the Standing Committee of Political Bureau of Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
This visit, the first of China's new leadership to Denmark, will also be the first high level meeting between our two countries this year. Two top Chinese leaders visiting Denmark in as many years is a testimony to the weight of Denmark in China's foreign policy and the sound momentum still building up in our relations.
Chairman Yu comes for friendship, understanding, cooperation and development. While consistent with most high-level Chinese visits, this visit has highlights of its own.
In my view, the visit will add to understanding about the CPPCC in this part of the world. CPPCC is an important institution of CPC-led multi-party cooperation and political consultation in China, and an important means of socialist democracy in China's political landscape.
The CPPCC is broadly-based with its deputies comprising of members of the CPC, democratic parties, individuals without party affiliation, and representatives from people's organizations, every ethnic group, Hong Kong and Macao SARs, Taiwan, returned overseas Chinese, and other deputies on invitation.
The mandate of the CPPCC is for political consultation, democratic supervision and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. Last March at the first session of the new CPPCC, over 5,600 proposals were submitted for processing by various competent authorities. The proposals, ranging from economic development to people's wellbeing and ecological development, reflects major development issues for China and public expectations for better life.
One of the major topics between Chairman Yu and Danish leaders today will be China's vision and plan for the future. It corresponds with a hot topic these days in China- the "Chinese Dream". Everyone, be it in Denmark or in China, is entitled to dream for a better life. The Chinese dream, in addition to its individual side, also has a national dimension, combining national prosperity and rejuvenation with people's happiness.
To turn the Chinese Dream into reality, we have set forth two major goals. The first is to double China's 2010 GDP and per capita income of urban and rural residents by 2020. The second is to build China into a modern socialist society featuring prosperity, democracy, cultural development and harmony by mid-century.
China is now working hard on economic restructuring for better quality and sustainability in economic and social development. In time, it will translate into new opportunities for the world, not least due to China's steady urbanization efforts. Huge demands will be unleashed as hundreds of millions of rural residents urbanize. In the meanwhile, a China committed to opening-up will import round $10 trillion worth of goods and invest $500 billion overseas in a mere span of 5 years.
In this context, China and Denmark has a lot to work and benefit together. Chairman Yu's schedule is packed with exchanges and field trips on green-tech, energy efficiency, emission reduction and renewable energy. In these areas, the strength of Denmark meets the vision of China. Experiences will be shared and possibilities for cooperation explored
In fact, green cooperation is already under way between the governments at the central and various local levels, between businesses and research institutions. A raft of agreements have been signed on renewable energy, building energy efficiency and water resources conservation, among others. More and more Danish enterprises are looking forward to expanding to the Chinese market. China on the other end welcomes new ideas, rich experiences and advanced technologies from Denmark for greater development at home and win-win results with Denmark.
Our cooperation as we speak now, is as robust as it is promising; giving us all the confidence for the future. And with the successful visit of Chairman Yu, here comes an opportunity to secure that future for our relations and our cooperation.