On February 22, 2023, the Consulate General of Denmark in Guangzhou officially opened its new chancery. Located on the 14th Floor of Lumina Tower 1, 13 Qiaoguang West Road, Yuexiu District, the Consulate is next to the Pearl River, and close to the historical centre of foreign trade with all of China.
It also marks the 25th anniversary of the official Danish diplomatic presence in Guangzhou and the Pearl River Delta.
(Photo provided to GDToday)
"The reason for being here today is unique and historical. With the opening of the Royal Danish Consulate General's new chancery, we take the next step in Denmark's onward journey with Guangzhou," Thomas Østrup Møller, Ambassador of Denmark to China, said at the official opening ceremony.
Many visitors to the brand-new location relived historic cooperative moments during a trip down the Memory Lane that featured the commercial high points of the legacy of 300 years of consistent maritime trade between Denmark and Guangdong, China.
"As recorded in the Memory Lane, China and Denmark have been interconnected for more than three centuries through sea and trade. For Denmark, Guangdong was where it all started," said Søren Bindesbøll, Consul General of Denmark in Guangzhou.
According to Bindesbøll, trade remains a key feature in Denmark's relation to Guangdong. Danish global market leaders such as Hempel, Coloplast, CO-RO and LINAK have set up production departments here. Rockwool just opened a state-of-the-art production base in Qingyuan. And Carlsberg is investing heavily in new facilities in Guangzhou these years. All of them highlight greenness.
He also noted that the Consulate's new premises host the Danish Regional Visa Hub for all of China.
(Photo provided to GDToday)
"Denmark was one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with the PRC, and became China's only comprehensive strategic partner in Northern Europe in 2008," Liu Yahong, Vice Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Guangdong, said when delivering her speech.
She added, "The relocation of the consular premises reflects its increasing commitment to South China."
The trade volume between Guangdong and Denmark accounts for nearly 1/6 of the national total. Many Guangdong enterprises, such as BGI, X-peng Electric Vehicle and Mingyang Smart Energy, also have a business presence in Denmark.
At present, Guangdong is steadfastly focused on the primary task of high-quality development.
Liu Yahong said, "In order to achieve mutual benefits and build a brighter future together, we look forward to working closely with the Danish Consulate General in Guangzhou and various sectors of Denmark. We will also continue to expand our cooperation in important fields like the circular economy, energy conservation and environmental protection, food safety, agricultural science and technology, and urbanization."
More than 120 local authorities, professionals, consular and business representatives attended the event, together with David Scherlund – a member from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and Danish diplomatic missions in China.
Author | Hannah, Zhang Xiao (intern)
Editor | Steven, Abby, James
