Sino-Danish green cooperation fruitful

Clean water, green cities

China and Denmark have also promoted cooperation in water resources management.

In June 2010, China's Ministry of Water Resources and Denmark's Ministry of Environment signed a memorandum of understanding on  cooperation in this sector.

The memo has augmented two-way cooperation in protecting groundwater resources, water resources planning, and restoration of water resources.

It enables Denmark, which has taken lead in water management and waste-water treatment, to export to China in an easier way its technology and experience in water resources management.

In March, Denmark, as the rotating presidency of the European Union, signed a water collaboration agreement with China on behalf of the 27-member EU bloc, at the Sixth World Water Forum in Marseille, France.

At the municipal level, Danish and Chinese cities have been also working together to boost green urban growth.

In October 2008, the northern Chinese city of Baoding and the northern Danish city of Soenderborg agreed to establish long-term exchange mechanisms for developing low- or zero-carbon cities, as Baoding hopes to be a model for China's low-carbon growth, while Soenderborg is home to a number of famous Danish enterprises specialized in low energy and energy-efficient technologies.

They officially forged a Friendship City agreement in April to share best practices in climate management.

Meanwhile, Denmark's second-largest city Aarhus has reached consensus with China's Harbin city to cooperate on development and utilization of wind energy.

Future cooperation promising

Promoted by the two governments, bilateral cooperation on green growth and environmental protection is promising and will achieve a win-win result.

Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit to Denmark from Thursday to Saturday will further advance collaboration in the green field.

During Hu's visit, temperature control systems maker Danfoss is expected to sign a cooperation agreement with Chinese partners to implement the first district heating system in China's Anshan City, Liaoning province, said the Danish company, which regards China as its  "second home market."

"China's most recent 12th Five-Year Plan stresses the importance of achieving quality growth and sustainable development more than ever before," Danfoss Chairman Joergen M. Clausen said in an email to Xinhua.

"In response, Chinese industries and society are striving to reach green goals by saving energy and reducing carbon emissions in all aspects of work and life. This generates substantial demand for energy-efficient products and solutions," he added.