Minister, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

As chairman of the Danish EXPO committee it is an honour and a great pleasure to welcoming you all to the opening of Denmark’s national day at EXPO 2010.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Chinese hosts for organizing such a great and important event. 

Being present today makes it clear to me what an impressive effort you have made, bringing more than 200 nations and organisations together in one place.

It is my strong belief that EXPO 2010 will increase mutual understanding between nations and create cultural bonds between people around the world. 

Denmark and China share a long history of strong and fruitful cooperation. This year, we are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations, as Denmark was one of the first Western countries to recognise the People’s Republic of China.

Participating in the EXPO 2010 is a unique opportunity for Denmark to strengthen our relations with China even further.

The Danish participation in EXPO 2010 is the most ambitious ever. We have invested a considerable amount of work and resources, and both the Danish State and Danish companies are strongly involved in the project.

We all believe that EXPO 2010 is an excellent opportunity to share information about Denmark and our values with the rest of the world. In all modesty, we believe Danish citizens and companies can make a real difference when it comes to the EXPO theme: better cities, better life.

The Danish Pavilion presents an opportunity to get a glimpse of Danish city life, and of being a Dane.

Like any Danish city, the Danish pavilion is best experienced on foot, which gives you time to absorb the surroundings. Or you can endeavour on a dynamic bicycle trip. Denmark is, just like China, a biking nation, and our pavilion has hundreds of bicycles for the visitors to use.

We have invited some of our finest young artists to contribute to the exhibition at the Danish Pavilion. Our hope is to give visitors the impression of being part of a modern fairytale. A fairytale told not only by word but unfolded in images, films and sound.

As you know, we have also brought a very special guest from Denmark. The Little Mermaid, from the famous fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen, has travelled all the way from Denmark to China.

For the first time ever, the Little Mermaid has left her home in the harbor of Copenhagen. Her presence is a gesture of friendship between our two countries and an invitation to further cultural dialogue.

Let me end these remarks by once again expressing my admiration to our Chinese hosts for a tremendous work and congratulate you with a very successful EXPO.

And thank you all for celebrating this day with us.