Denmark Keeps Up Good Maritime Relations with China

As part of its international work, the Danish Maritime Authority took part in the fourth bilateral consultative meeting with the Chinese Ministry of Transport on 21-22 May. The purpose was to carry on the good maritime relations between Denmark and China.

The Danish delegation, headed by Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority Andreas Nordseth, went to Shanghai to continue the constructive dialogue with China.

“It is important that we constantly strive to maintain good relations with our international partners”, says Andreas Nordseth. “Both Denmark and China are leading maritime nations so it is natural to exchange experiences and to be inspired by each other.”

“At this meeting with China, we could, inter alia, inform about partnerships within green shipping and about the Danish perspectives on navigation in the Arctic regions. At the same time, we could personally extend an invitation to the Chinese maritime companies to establish business in Denmark.”

 Inspiration from Denmark

The Chinese were talking about their work extending and modernising the transport infrastructure in China both on their inner waterways and when it comes to better integration of transport by sea and by rail. They also accounted for the ongoing Chinese considerations improving the framework conditions, including inter alia – inspired by Denmark – considerations to introduce tonnage taxation and tax advantages for seafarers in international trade.

Both Denmark and China agreed that the regular dialogue meetings are of great value. Against this background, it was agreed to host the next bilateral consultative meeting in Denmark in 2014. Overall, the dialogue meeting was evidence of the strong maritime relations between Denmark and China, extending back to 1974 when the first maritime agreement between Denmark and China was concluded by Deng Xiaoping and Poul Hartling.

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DMA, May 31, 2013