Danish artist Poul Pava (1st R) communicates with visitors at the booth of Danish design house Aida at the Lifestyles exhibition area during the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 7, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)

China welcomes the expansion of two-way trade and investment and is willing to continuously cooperate with the international community, including Denmark, to jointly ensure the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, and push for positive outcomes of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Wang Yi said.

BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday said that China welcomes the expansion of two-way trade and investment with Denmark.

Wang made that remark during a phone talk with his Danish counterpart Jeppe Kofod.

He said that since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between China and Denmark 70 years ago, the bilateral ties have maintained a good momentum of development, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Noting that Kofod has once compared the China-Denmark relationship to "a big, fruitful tree with strong root," Wang said that the metaphor was very vivid and adequate.

Wang said that he believes the root for that tree is mutual respect, particularly a respect for each other's core interests.

The root is also to treat each other equally, and to reach cooperation and win-win through dialogue, he added.

Both sides should seriously summarize these important experiences and lessons and inherit them in the next 70 years of China-Denmark relations, he said.

The booth of Denmark is seen at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 6, 2018. (Xinhua/Yin Gang)

"There are no two leaves are alike," Wang said, adding that the social systems of China and Denmark are different, and it is a choice made by their two peoples and is in line with each other's specific national conditions.

The correct way to get along with each other is to learn from each other and learn from each other's beneficial experiences and practices.

Both sides should adhere to their cooperative partnership, the principle of seeking common ground while reserving differences, the direction of mutual benefit and win-win, and the concept of green and openness.

China welcomes the expansion of two-way trade and investment and is willing to continuously cooperate with the international community, including Denmark, to jointly ensure the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, and push for positive outcomes of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Wang said.

Denmark is an important member of the European Union (EU), Wang said, hoping Denmark will continuously push the EU to pursue a positive and constructive China policy.

Kofod said that Denmark, as one of the first European countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, highly values its relations with China and is willing to continue to effectively manage differences with China and carry out dialogue and cooperation based on the principle of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

A cargo vessel to Denmark is anchored at the container terminal of Chuanshan Port in Ningbo City, east China's Zhejiang Province, May 9, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

Denmark highly appreciates the announcement made by Chinese President Xi Jinping that China will strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, believing that this will vigorously advance international cooperation against climate change, Kofod said.

Denmark is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in such fields as climate change, energy and environment protection, he said, adding that Denmark will actively participate in the COP 15 to the Convention on Biological Diversity to be held in Kunming, China.

The completion of the EU-China investment agreement negotiation has sent a positive political signal, Kofod said, noting Denmark is willing to push the cooperation between the EU and China in such fields as investment, trade and climate change. ■