Danish media react positively to Hu's upcoming visit

COPENHAGEN - News of Chinese President Hu Jintao's forthcoming state visit to Denmark has sparked positive reactions and a lively debate in Danish media.

The media have reacted with enthusiasm to the news that Hu will visit the Nordic country of 5.5 million inhabitants for the first time. The visit will also be the first one by a Chinese head of state.

News of the visit broke Tuesday night on Danish news agency Ritzau following confirmation from Denmark's Foreign Ministry that President Hu would visit Denmark at some point next week.

The actual date of the visit, June 14-16, was officially released by the office of Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt on Wednesday morning.

Danish public broadcaster DR News was quick to run several stories covering the dates of the visit, the potential areas of strategic cooperation between the two countries, and reactions from Danish political parties, academics, business groups and social advocacy groups.

Thorning-Schmidt called the visit "historic," saying she was glad for Hu's visit.

"Both Denmark and China have much to gain by a closer relationship and I look forward to discussing how we can further strengthen the depth and breadth of our Strategic Partnership," she said in a statement.

Earlier Wednesday, Danish Foreign Minister Villy Soevndal said the visit reflected Denmark's status as the sole Nordic state and one of very few European countries that has made a Strategic Partnership Agreement with China.

The Danish royal court also released a press message confirming Denmark's Queen Margrethe II had invited President Hu for a visit. As Queen Margrethe II is expected to give a state banquet in Hu's honor on June 15, commentators were discussing if there was some food President Hu would not like.

There were also short articles on DR News' website including a short biographical portrait of President Hu, a longer article on his political career and early years of his life, and a brief peek into his trip itinerary.

There was also a short interview with Professor Verner Worm, director of the Confucius Institute at Copenhagen Business School, earlier Wednesday, where Worm spoke about the "absolutely unique" nature of Hu's visit and the impact it could have on Sino-Danish business relations.

Business news websites such as Boersen.dk, and DR News itself gave more space to the potential economic outcome of the visit.

There were comments from the Confederation of Danish Industry and the Danish Wind Turbine Association, where experts said the visit would open up great opportunities for Danish businesses to access the Chinese market, not only in wind power, water management and food industries.

The visit has been closely followed by Ritzau and DR News, and featured on news updates on DR's radio and TV channels, and TV2's news channel.