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Chinese trade and investment promotion delegation has arrived in Stockholm to begin its three day business activities including a forum, signing of contracts ceremony and other events.
Led by Gao Hucheng, Vice Minister of Commerce, the 300 member delegation who are from Chinese enterprises, Trade Federations and government have just visited Italy. Sweden is the second leg of their four countries ‘ tour in Europe. They will also visit Finland and Portugal.
Vice Minister Gao Hucheng and Swedish State Secretary Wieslander will make keynote speeches during a forum on deepening cooperation for mutual benefit on Wednesday. The delegates and Swedish entrepreneurs will also have time to contact and talk about further cooperation.
Sweden-China Trade Council, Invest in Sweden and around 100 Swedish Enterprises including Eriksson, Cleantec, and others will participate in the forum.
The delegation follows President Hu Jintao's visit to Italy and Portugal. It is reported that the delegation has signed many contracts with their Italian counterparts during their visit in Italy.
This has been the fourth trip of its kind which China organized large trade promoting delegations to Europe to buy advanced equipments and technologies, to talk about trade and cooperation between Chinese and European entrepreneurs. Deeper cooperation between Ericsson and Chinamobile and other telecom companies is expected.
The 300 delegates are from various ministries including that of Foreign Affairs, Finance and Environment Protection, various provinces and various industries such as machinery, solar energy and transport.
The trip aims at promoting Sino-European cooperation in investing in China as well as Chinese investing in Europe, in introducing advanced technology to China and mutual trade. Introducing energy saving products and environmental protection equipments and technologies is also one of the important missions of the delegation.
The EU is China's first trade partner in the world and the largest source countries for importing high tech while China is the EU's second largest trade partner.
From January to May this year, Sino-EU trade volume reached 129.2 billion US dollars, accounting for 16.9% of China's total foreign trade, higher than the 16.6% for the whole year in 2008, according to source from the Ministry of Commerce.
This is also considered part of a method to cope with the financial crisis and expand mutually beneficial cooperation with all the countries including those in EU and oppose trade protectionism.
Analysts hold that the delegation's visit will be conducive to economic and trade cooperation between China and the EU countries and deepen the strategic partnership between China and the EU.
By Xuefei Chen, People's Daily Online, Stockholm.
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