Beijing Design Week unique chance to showcase Danish design: Copenhagen mayor

Denmark's capital city of Copenhagen has been selected to co-host the Beijing Design Week in 2018, which would be a unique chance to showcase Danish design to the Chinese audience, Copenhagen mayor Frank Jensen said.

Jensen, who is in China to attend the ongoing China-Denmark Cities and Regions Forum, made the remarks in a statement.

In 2018, Danish designers, architects and urban planners will be able to showcase their work during the annual fortnight event, which has become the leading international platform for design in China since its founding in 2009.

"I am certain that this will benefit Copenhagen's creative businesses, help boost Danish exports and attract more Chinese visitors to Denmark," Jensen said.

According to Jensen, Copenhagen will invite Danish organizations and businesses working with design to become part of the co-host effort by having an exhibit -- ranging from artistic design and gastronomy to innovative urban planning and programming computer games -- in Beijing's 798 arts district during the event.

"We intend to use Beijing Design Week 2018 as an opportunity to make design an even bigger part of our efforts to promote Copenhagen and encourage more people to visit here," says Mikkel Aaroe Hansen, the managing director of Wonderful Copenhagen, the city's official tourism bureau.

According to a report by Wonderful Copenhagen, design is an important motivation for Chinese travellers' decision to visit Copenhagen. About 80 percent of Chinese visiting Copenhagen are interested in buying Danish design products.

Every year, Beijing Design Week hosts a guest city's representatives to share their wisdom and experience, aiming to promote institutional exchange as well as commercial and economic opportunities amongst the two cities. Past participants have been London, Milan, Dubai, Amsterdam, Seoul and Barcelona. Endit