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The Chinese-Danish relation goes way back
It is a pleasure to be here today.
I am happy that we are developing our Chinese-Danish relationship – both when it comes to our business collaboration and our collaboration within science and education. The Chinese-Danish relation has a long and strong history.
Denmark was among the first countries that created diplomatic ties with the new People’s Republic of China. And our ties have grown stronger and stronger through the years.
Our cultural relations, our political relations and our trade relations are very valuable for us.
SDC is an important benchmark
Let me give you an example.
Within the last few years we have created a quite unique new platform between our two countries.
The creation of the Sino–Danish Center for Education and Research – SDC.
SDC is a joint project on education and research. It is a collaboration between the eight Danish universities, the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
The idea behind SDC was launched in 2008 and the agreement concerning building the centre in Beijing was adopted in 2010.
The overall aim of SDC is to promote and strengthen collaboration between Danish and Chinese learning environments and increase mobility of students and researchers between Denmark and China.
This spring I went to China. It was as part of the Royal Couple’s state visit.
We had a very full programme.
But I have especially one strong memory from the trip.
I had the pleasure of attending the ceremony of the new building for SDC. Where Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II cut the first sod.
SDC is not just a building in China. It is a Danish house in China. It will stand as a symbol of the Sino-Danish friendship and collaboration. And the building - The House of the Danish Industry Foundation - will be finished by the end of 2015.
The Danish Industry Foundation has donated DKK 99 million for the SDC´s new building.
It will come to work as an exhibit window for Danish architecture, design and environmentally friendly technology.
We are currently investigating how to finance the arrangements of the building, including furniture and lighting. So if any of you have a spare lamp, it is very welcome.
But it shall not only be a framework for education, science and innovation.
It shall be a natural choice for business to set up meetings, conferences and cultural arrangements.
A platform for floating new knowledge between business, education and science. A centre for creating new ideas. A building meant for framing innovative thinking.
Nothing less can do the job when we have to merge two different educational outsets into one new education framework. SDC is the framework for seven Master’s Programmes.
Water and Sustainable Environment, Nanoscience, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Innovation Management, Public Management and Social Development and finally Omics.
These are all areas where China and Denmark have set up cooperation within SDC. Areas that have huge potentials in terms of growth and job creation.
And areas where Denmark is in a leading position when it comes to new knowledge, for instance in relation to environment and climate.
I want to see SDC grow as a strong resource for Danish businesses in relation to research, innovation and recruitment of qualified staff with intercultural knowledge and understanding of both China and Denmark.
We have to strengthen Denmark in China – and China in Denmark.
China as an important global economy
A couple of years ago the European Commission estimated that in 2025 61 percent of the world population will be Asian. 6 percent will be European.
That should give us food for thought.
In terms of GDP Asia’s will be more than 30 percent in 2025. This surpasses that of the EU, estimated at slightly more than 20 percent.
One fifth of the world population is already living in China. And China is quickly heading towards becoming the leading global economy.
This is, among other things, based on massive investments in research and development.
This is why our ties with China are so important.
And during the last ten years Denmark has been the third best in Europe to create growth in the export to China.
Extend the Danish-Chinese cooperation
Last month the Danish Prime Minister visited China. She was followed by a delegation of representatives from Danish companies.
The interest for Danish companies and Danish knowhow is significant in China.
During the visit the Chinese President Xi Jinping mentioned that the cooperation platforms between China and Denmark should be strengthened.
Including an extended exchange of students, education and research.
I fully agree with that. And we are already working on it.
Since 2012 60 government agreements have been settled between China and Denmark. 40 agreements between Danish companies and China have been settled in the same period.
Next year – 2015 – will be the 65th anniversary for establishing the diplomatic relation between China and Denmark.
This longstanding diplomatic relation has paved the way for cooperation in many areas.
Besides research and education I can mention environment, tourism, welfare systems, urbanisation, development of regions and development of agriculture among others.
So obviously our relationship with China is very important.
And that is also why it will be a great pleasure to open the new House of the Danish Industry Foundation in 2015.
Where our cooperation will reach new levels. But to ensure the success of SDC we clearly need you.
It goes without saying that we need a strong and committed business involvement in SDC.
I am looking forward to the cooperation.
Thank you