News from the Secretary General

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Dear Members,

Since our last newsletter, our network has expanded to 125 members. I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new members:

Naval Electronics

Region Midtjylland

Lingtech A/S

Mørkegaard Design A/S

I am looking forward to welcoming you at our next meeting, which will take place on 4 December at Novozymes A/S, Bagsværd. Mr. Helge Sander, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation and Ms. Inge Mærkedal, Director of the Agency of Science, Technology and Innovation will talk about the new Danish China Strategy and the resources provided by the finance law for 2009.

The Danish Prime Minister’s official visit to China
At the invitation of H.E. Wen Jiabao, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Rasmussen, the Danish Prime Minister travelled to China in order to attend the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting and to pay an official visit (20th – 25th October 2008). During the official visit President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

The talks were fruitful and led to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement between China and Denmark. The agreement will be a strong framework not only for existing cooperation but also for the future Sino-Danish relationship.

Concerning the Conference of Parties (COP 15) in Copenhagen in 2009, the two sides stressed the importance they attach to tackling climate change. They support the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as the main channel for global efforts on climate change and reiterated their commitment to the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”. They will work together with a view to reaching an agreed outcome and adopt a decision at the COP 15 in Copenhagen in 2009. The two sides agreed to maintain close contact at all levels with a view to attaining this goal.

As a key initiative leading up to the COP 15 in Copenhagen in November 2009, the Chinese-Danish Climate Change Conference was attended by 400 guests, and hosted by NDRC and the Danish Embassy. Anders Fogh Rasmussen delivered a keynote speech on the increasingly important climate change issues. Ten members of Danish-Chinese Business Forum also attended the conference. They are: Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Danfoss A/S, Grundfos Management A/S, VKR Holding A/S, COWI A/S, Arkitema K/S, Novozymes A/S, IFU, MB it-Consulting A/S and Kopenhagen Fur.

In the presence of the Danish Prime Minister, Premier Wen Jiabao and a large Danish Business Delegation, a cooperation agreement on the establishment of a national centre for new and renewable energy was signed, supporting the Chinese government’s implementation of plans for renewable energy. Further support will be given to the development and implementation of national plans for wind, biomass and solar energy and the establishment of an energy information centre. The agreement also includes cooperation on the development of new and innovative energy technologies.

Furthermore, the Ambassador of Denmark, Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen, signed an agreement between the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Danish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Technology. The agreement will result in the establishment of a Sino-Danish research institute, the Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences being the main partner. The Sino-Danish research institute will house 100 researchers, 75 Ph.D. students as well as 300 Master students, when fully established. Half of those will come from Denmark.

Click the link to read more about Joint Statement between China and Denmark on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

Massive 586 Billion US$ Stimulus Package
In reaction to the international financial crisis, the Chinese Government announced a huge stimulus package of about 586 billion US$ on 10 November. This is the latest and most conspicuous of the steps China has been taking in the last few months to strengthen the weakening economy.

The money will be spent over the next two years to finance programs in 10 major areas; e.g. low-income housing, rural infrastructure, water, electricity, transportation, the environment, technological innovation and rebuilding from several natural disasters (including the earthquake in May).

According to PRC media, this amount equals at least one third of China’s fixed asset investment for 2007. With these measures it is anticipated that China’s economic growth will remain above 8.5% for this year. The forecast is 9.4% according to the official Chinese source.

Member Meetings in 2008 and 2009

2008
The last member meeting in 2008 will take place on 4 December (from 16:00 – 18:30). Mr. Helge Sander, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation and Ms. Inge Mærkedal, Director of the Agency of Science, Technology and Innovation will talk about their new strategy for knowledge-based collaboration between Denmark and China. The meeting will be hosted by Novozymes. Invitations to this event have been sent out.

2009

06 January

Economic and Financial Development in China-from 16.00 to 18.00/18.30 at Handelsbanken, Copenhagen

• Banking and Leasing in China; by Claus Frandsen, Senior Account Manager, Handelsbanken Shanghai
•China – from Overheating to Economic Downturn. Implications for the World Economy; by Thomas Haugaard, Senior Economist, Handelsbanken Capital Markets

22 January

Talent Development in China -from 16.00 to 18.00/18.30 at MB it-Consulting A/S, Copenhagen

Speakers from Novo Nordisk A/S, Danfoss A/S and A. P. Møller-Mærsk A/S (TBC)

You will receive the meeting schedule for 2009 within the next few weeks. But you can already now make a note in your calendar of the first two member meetings of 2009.

Yours sincerely,

Tom Jensen
Secretary General

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