Denmark is seeking further business opportunities in China in various fields like healthcare, food and clean energy, and remains upbeat about growing the bilateral economic and trade ties, Danish Ambassador to China Michael S. Christensen said recently in Shanghai.
Danmark is participating in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) for the seventh time in a row with two pavilions this year. Christensen highlighted the sectors where Denmark and China can expand cooperation in an interview with the China Media Group (CMG).
"We have two pavilions -- a healthcare pavilion and a food pavilion. We try to focus on where Denmark has some special expertise and can deliver some high-quality solutions. So, we are here with a food pavilion, which we are every year. And we have 11 Danish companies who come with high-quality foods, [like] dairy products, food supplements. And then, this year we have the first time a healthcare pavilion, because China is Denmark's second-largest export market for pharmaceuticals, bio solutions, medical devices. It's interesting with healthcare because we [both] have the same challenges. We have a population that grows older, we have a lot of lifestyle diseases. And again, this is a good chance to show the Chinese that Denmark is here with solutions," the Danish ambassador said.
Danish pharmaceutical companies, through the healthcare pavilion, seek to tap further into the market of China which has unveiled a Healthy China 2030 blueprint to improve public health, according to Christensen.
China's National Medical Products Administration and the Danish Medicines Agency also signed a letter of intent to promote bilateral cooperation in the regulation of drugs and medical devices in Beijing on Oct 24.
Last year, China and Denmark launched a Green Joint Work Program (2023-2026) to boost cooperation on sustainability across all sectors including the environment, water, healthcare, and agriculture.
Christensen told CMG that many Danish firms have brought to this CIIE their solutions for a green transition, hoping to expand their business and consolidate cooperation with their Chinese counterparts in the related sectors.
"China is very good in solar. I was in Qinghai Province -- it is one of my first visits when I came to China. And in Qinghai, they are big on renewable energy, solar and wind, also inner Mongolia [where there is] a lot of production of clean energy. And then, now one of the problems is to transport all that electricity to where it's being used in the coastal areas, in the Beijing area. So, there are new areas where we can cooperate because we want to be part of this boom here. And of course, we work together at government level, but we also hope that our industries and private sector can benefit from the development in China," he said.
Christensen said Denmark values China as one of its most important trade partners and that his country's participation in the CIIE, the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports, for the seventh consecutive year proves its confidence in further growing this partnership.
"I hope the opportunities will grow. China today is Denmark's seventh largest export market and it should be able to grow higher than that. China is also having a big export to Denmark of course, but we are actually leveling. So, I choose to be quite optimistic that we can have more trade in the future," said the ambassador.
Running from Tuesday to Sunday under the theme of "New Era, Shared Future," the seventh CIIE has attracted participants from 152 countries, regions, and international organizations to participate in the country exhibition and business exhibition.
Denmark seeks more business opportunities in China, upbeat about trade ties: ambassador
