Exchanges

Danish Queen Margrethe II Visits China

President Xi Jinping held talks with Queen Margrethe II of Denmark in Beijing on April 24， 2014.

Sino-Danish relations have never been better， said Xi Jinping， on the occasion of the Danish Queens visit. China has become Denmarks largest trade partner in Asia and second-largest overseas destination for investment. Not long ago， China and Denmark jointly participated in shipping and destroying Syrian chemical weapons， which has set a successful example of cooperation in international affairs. China now stands at an important phase of in-depth development of new-type industrialization， informatization， urbanization and agricultural modernization and boasts huge growth potential for investment and consumption. Denmark has rich experience and technological advantages in many fields. Both sides should actively expand cooperation and enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges in order to jointly promote Sino-European relations. China is willing to join Denmark in pushing their comprehensive strategic partnership to a new high.

Queen Margrethe II said that during her visit she personally witnessed Chinas great changes brought by its development， and that she was deeply impressed. She hoped that the visit would help strengthen the close relationship between the two countries， to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples， and to promote mutually beneficial cooperation for more results.

Senior Chinese and ASEAN officials Meet in Thailand

The 20th ASEAN-China Senior Officials Consultation（ACSOC） was held in Pattaya， Thailand on April 22， 2014. The Meeting was co-chaired by Liu Zhenmin， Chinas Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs， and Sihasak Phuangketkeow， Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand.

The 20th ACSOC reviewed and discussed ways and means to further strengthen ASEANChina Strategic Partnership， particularly the follow-up to the initiatives and outcomes of the 16th ASEAN-China Summit on October 9， 2013 in Bandar Seri Begawan. Senior officials exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interests and concern， including global financial and economic situations and relations with major powers. The meeting also reviewed ASEAN-China cooperation with respect to non-traditional security issues， including food and energy security， climate change， counter-terrorism， transnational crimes， cybercrimes， maritime security， and epidemics， with a view to enhancing cooperation in these areas.

Second Meeting of China-U.K. High-Level People-toPeople Dialogue Kicks off in Beijing

On April 23， 2014， the second meeting of the China-U. K. High-Level People-to-People Dialogue was convened in Beijing. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and British Prime Minister David Cameron sent letters of congratulation to the meetings opening ceremony. Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong and British Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt co-chaired the meeting.

Li Keqiang pointed out in his letter that in 2012， China and the U.K. launched the first high-level people-to-people exchange between China and the EU countries. Both sides have conducted fruitful exchanges and cooperation in important fields including education， science， technology， culture， and sports， which have exerted far-reaching and positive influence among the people of both countries. In his letter， Cameron said the U.K. is willing to work with China to consolidate peopleto-people exchanges as the cornerstone of U.K.-China relations.

Liu Yandong said peopleto-people exchanges would boost the two countriesunderstanding， enhance friendship and promote cooperation. Both Chinese and British people should become strong supporters， active developers and true beneficiaries of bilateral cooperation.

Hunt said that the U.K. and China are important cooperative partners and their relationship is likely to become closer. The U.K. stands ready to increase highlevel exchanges with China， to bring the U.K.-China High-Level People-to-People Dialogue into full play， and to expand people-to-people exchanges and cooperation.

Year of South Africa in China Launched in Beijing

The Year of South Africa in China was launched in Beijing on April 29， 2014. More than 50 events relating to South Africa will be held in China over the year， including trade seminars， art programs and educational projects. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma exchanged congratulatory messages on the program.

Addressing the opening ceremony， Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao said it is a pioneering move in the history of exchanges between China and South Africa， as well as with Africa as a whole. The event will enrich the content of the comprehensive strategic partnership. He believes the Year of South Africa in China will show a confident and diversified South Africa to the Chinese people and demonstrate the friendship and close cooperation between the two nations.

Special Representative of South African government Ambassador Margiela said that the two sides will organize events in both countries to develop the potential of bilateral friendship. He believes that with support from China， the image of South Africa will be clarified and Chinese peoples understanding about the country will be enhanced. This will facilitate the two countriesdevelopments in economy， education， culture and society.

Next year will be the Year of China in South Africa during which China will carry out a variety of promotion and exchange activities in South Africa.