Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) meets with Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen in Washington on March 31, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

WASHINGTON -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen Thursday on the sidelines of the fourth Nuclear Security Summit, calling for bigger progress in the development of bilateral ties.

"The sustained and in-depth development of the China-Denmark relations complies with the common interest of the two nations and two peoples," said Xi.

Hailing the increasingly strengthened political mutual trust and the comprehensively promoted practical cooperation between the two sides, Xi said China-Denmark relations now stand at a new historical starting point.

He called on the two sides to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, synergize their development strategies, boost people-to-people exchanges, promote youth exchanges and strengthen coordination in international organizations such as the United Nations.

Xi further urged the two sides to deepen cooperation in such fields as inter-connectivity, low-carbon and circular economy, medicine and food, and green development, calling for joint efforts for bigger progress this year in the development of China-Denmark comprehensive strategic partnership.

China consistently views and develops its relations with the European Union (EU) from a strategic and long-term perspective, expecting Denmark to play an active role in the development of the China-EU partnership featuring peace, growth, reform and civilization, said Xi.

China stands ready to boost cooperation with northern European countries in such fields as enterprise innovation, green development and people-to-people exchanges, Xi added.

For his part, Rasmussen said Denmark is committed to the development of its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, adding that there are great potential and opportunities for the development of bilateral ties.

Denmark is willing to make joint efforts with the Chinese side to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields at national and sub-national levels, strengthen people-to-people exchanges and enhance communication and coordination on international affairs, said the prime minister, adding that his country supports to develop closer China-Europe relationship as well as more intimate ties between China and Northern Europe.

He further noted that Denmark supports the recognition of China's full market economy status.